App developed to help young people battling pornography

US Catholic leaders working with youth have developed an app to help young people battling with an addiction to pornography.

The app, named “Victory”, is based on a calendar system, where the user can mark with colours the days they were victorious over porn or had a setback.

White means they were victorious, grey means a setback, and green means they went to Confession.

After the setback is logged, the app helps to pinpoint what the trigger was.

Users can choose from various “trigger” options — boredom, loneliness, anger, stress or tiredness.

This is to help self-awareness.

The app includes a section for journaling, and there’s a prayer request button that will notify up to three “accountability partners”, to pray for the person.

The app is private and requires a four-digit passcode to log in.

It was developed by former Catholic Answers apologist Matt Fradd, youth minister and “Bible Geek” Mark Hart and Lifeteen.

Mr Fradd told the Catholic News Service that one of the reasons the Victory app is helpful is that it enables people to view freedom from porn, not as a destination, but as a daily choice.

“This app enables us to daily track our progress and reflect upon our victories,” Mr Fradd said.

Lifeteen’s Rachel Penate said the app could well be adapted to help people struggling with any particular sin.

Victory was launched on May 28, and since then it has been downloaded more than 4500 times.

The app is free, and the accompanying book included in the app costs US$1.99.

The developers hope Victory can help bring the addictive and destructive nature of pornography to light and to provide supportive and private assistance to liberate young people who have a porn addiction.

“The hope of this app,” said Ms Penate, “is that it will spark real and honest conversations about porn — why it needs to happen to heal from addiction; why it’s destructive; and to encourage teens that they are not alone in this fight: That it is OK to struggle.”

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