HJR342 Summary

• Recognizes pornography as a public health crisis in Alabama requiring systematic education, prevention, research, and policy responses.

• Identifies harms to children including hyper-sexualization, low self-esteem, eating disorders, early problematic sexual activity, and increased risky sexual behavior from internet exposure.

• Cites pornography's role in normalizing violence and abuse of women and children, equating violence with sex, and increasing demand for sex trafficking and child sexual abuse.

• Documents negative effects on pornography users including emotional, mental, and medical illnesses, deviant sexual arousal, relationship difficulties, brain development impairment, and addiction.

• Calls for community and societal-level education, prevention, research, and policy change to address the epidemic harming Alabama residents and the nation.