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This is going to be anecdotal on my part, and I am not an expert (yet), but I learned that there are many instances of exploitation that happen on "normal" websites, especially social media. While exploitation certainly happens on pornographic websites, it is not the sole area in which it happens. 

Another anecdotal experience is that I was groomed on Steam, a gaming service; will we require identification to play video games, someday? Some already want social media to require identification, so it's not a stretch. And don't get me started about exploitative material found completely away from surface pornography websites, as seriously heinous stuff exists on the Dark Web, and inside of evil people's offline "collections."

I know there's many factors at play, but I ultimately feel that parents should be more involved and try to prevent such content from being accessed by their kids, without government involvement. However, I do feel this is partly by design, allowing the government more control, disguised by good intentions.

There's a few more points I wanted to make, but I don't want to create a wall of text. I really hope things work out for freedom, but I am fearful.

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Sorry to hear that happened to you. You're absolutely right: again, the problem is it's not actually about solving problems or improving people's lives. If it was, there are all kinds of things that could be done that wouldn't hurt innocent creators. Tumblr was STUFFED with actual exploitation material for years, people BEGGED for them to do something about it, they did zero. Then it was bought out, porn was banned...and the exploitative and illegal shit STILL managed to seep through here and there. These people have zero interest in actually protecting children, women, or people in general. They just use emotionally charged topics as a wedge to gain power and money for themselves. And there are all kinds of emotionally charged topics, porn is just a perennially available one.
I didn't bother saying so in my post, but of COURSE I don't want people harmed, exploited, groomed, trafficked etc. But people making cartoon porn or writing erotica for Amazon (A whole nother censorship front) etc etc aren't the problem. There really is a lot of dark, evil shit going on out there, and something SHOULD be done about it, something real. But largely it hasn't, isn't, and won't be, and I think a lot of people these days understand why.

"However, I do feel this is partly by design, allowing the government more control, disguised by good intentions."

Yeah, I mean I try to avoid TOO much speculation, but I don't think it requires a tin foil hat or too much imagination to picture how compiling a database of everyone's pornographic habits, attached to their names and easily accessible by any number of government and corporate agents, MIGHT be abused in spectacular fashion. The blackmail potential is mind-boggling.