A very respected Israeli professor once had a discussion with the previous Gerrer Rebbe Pnei Menachem ztzl about this issue. The professor asked the Rebbe, why do chareidi Jews have such a strong opposition to pictures of women not completely dressed? You must be very perverted if you have bad thoughts. That never happens to me. The Rebbe answered him. Can you walk bare foot in the desert? The prof answered, no, the hot sand would burn my feet. Asked the Rebbe, but the Arabs have no problem walking in the hot desert sands? The prof answered, that’s because their feet have become so hardened and used to it. My feet are sensitive. Said the Rebbe, yes and that’s how your soul has become, hardened and insensitive to inapproriate pictures, while the souls of chareidi yidden are sensitive to this.
Everyone knows that these pictures corrupt a person’s mind and soul. How anyone can say that it doesn’t is beyond me. I guess their souls have also become so used to this that they are hardened and insensitive. I for one would not hold myself proud that these pictures have no effect.
These kids don’t break away from yiddishkeit only due to inappropriate pictures. But it starts the ball rolling. It’s a catalyst for disaster. It makes the soul insensitive to yiddishkeit and a fertile breeding ground for the Yetzer Hora.