Sex, Sex Everywhere: Corrupting Young Minds?

Sexual images pervade America but the debate continues as to whether they are harmful or simply entertaining.

(ABC News/Getty/AP)

'It's Not Dangerous'

"There are groups of people out there who are devoted to scaring the heck out of Americans about sexuality," said sociologist and sex therapist Marty Klein, author of "America's War on Sex." Klein said, "It makes some people feel good because they say, 'Aha, there's the enemy and if only we could do something about that, everything would be better.'"

Klein adds the dire predictions of anti-sex crusaders have not happened, and that despite all the increased sex in America, most of the news is good.

Statistics prove Klein has a point. Over the past decade the rape rate has dropped, as has the birthrate among teen girls. And this happened, as not just the media but as the world around us seemed to be coarser. There's sexy lingerie shown on scantily clad mannequins in store windows. And there's sex all over kids' computers.

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Protesters once picketed stores that dared sell Playboy magazine and Penthouse, but now little kids with e-mail accounts get spam offering penis enlargers.

That's why people like Sprigg believe we need tougher regulations on pornography, and we need to protect children from sexual images.

But Marty Klein feels that's easier said than done. "The truth is children think about sex whether we want them to or not, children think about sex. Children don't need our help to think about sex. The issue really is," said Klein, "Is the stuff out there that you and I don't like, is it dangerous? And the good news is that for the most part, the unsavory sexual things that people are exposed to aren't dangerous -- they may be unpleasant, but they're not dangerous."