Recently, I read a short article from Jarrid Wilson titled, “Google’s Done With Internet Pornography,” and I’ll have to say. . . I was a bit skeptical at first. People have been accessing pornography via internet for years. Just decades ago, you had to buy movies and magazines to get exposed to pornography—today however, it’s as easy as accessing an internet search engine. Since Google is the most widely used search engine, it didn’t sound right to me for them to take a stand against internet pornography. But that was until I read their new policy about adult content. Here it is:

“The AdWords policies on adult sexual services, family status, and underage or non-consensual sex acts will be updated in late June 2014 to reflect a new policy on sexually explicit content. Under this policy, sexually explicit content will be prohibited, and guidelines will be clarified regarding promotion of other adult content. The change will affect all countries. We made this decision as an effort to continually improve users’ experiences with AdWords. After the new policy goes into effect, the adult sexual services, family status, and underage or non-consensual sex acts policy pages will reflect this change.” (1)

For those struggling with pornography, this is great news. I have dealt with it in my own life for many years, and also counseled many people who have struggled with it. While God alone grants the grace to overcome all addictions, including addictions to pornography, this is a huge step in overcoming it. One of the best ways to overcome the sin is to get away from it. Stay away from the influences.

Paul writes, “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexual immoral, not idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Cor. 6:9-11). There is hope for those struggling with internet pornography. Paul’s readers had once been people who practiced sexual immorality of all sorts, but as he writes, they were washed and sanctified and justified.

Pray for Google. Pray for those struggling with internet pornography. Pray that this will be a major step in setting people free from the slavery of the pornographic industry.

1. Adult Content, https://support.google.com/adwordspolicy/answer/4271759, (emphasis mine).