As the internet has changed and progressed in the past years, the spectrum of accessible information has become broader than we could have imagined; and it has come with consequences. The graphic and unrealistic content shown in pornography has always been a taboo in society and not something that is really discussed, but it has lost some of its stigma because it is readily accessible and almost a normality because of the embrace of sexuality in today’s society. This accessibility has created a problem that desperately needs a solution. Because it’s so easily acquired, children and young teens are being exposed to material that is too mature for them at that age. Often, porn portrays violent situations, specifically toward women, which creates an idea for viewers, not just children, that that kind of behavior is acceptable. Using real people as sexual actors to create these fictitious situations dehumanizes the most intimate relationship that people can have with each other, not to mention that it becomes addictive as something so intimate turns into just something you need a daily dose of. Internet users, especially parents, need to become educated about what is available on the internet so that no child or adult believes that aggressive sexual behavior is tolerable even when it’s claimed to be “sexual expression.” As for the extreme material found on porn websites, obscenity laws could be passed to manage harmful material that could reach the public. This way, the public is protected from material that does more harm than good.
Pornography has been defined in several different ways: sexual expression, art, or even “the world’s most popular past time” as noted by the infamous Urban Dictionary. What it really is though is obscenity, and a TED Talk speaker, Ran Gavrieli, has even gone so far as to call it “filmed prostitution.” In this TED Talk, Gavrieli goes on to discuss the techniques used to film porn and how the camera only focuses on that actual penetration of the sexual act and never portrays natural human connection that comes with kissing and touching. This setting changes the way viewers see sexual intimacy, which Gavrieli confirms from his own experiences. False pretenses come from the set-up of porn actors to look or be a certain way in videos and it removes the affection and intimacy that should be a part of such a secluded relationship. In an article published in Psychology Today, two German neuroscientists found that there was a correlation between how much porn a man consumed and the volume of his striatum, “a region of the brain’s reward network.” The men who watched pornography more frequently were found to be the ones with a smaller volume in their striatum. This finding implies that pornography dulls the sense of reward when it comes to sex and that consuming in sexual activity digitally reduces the natural reward that comes from one’s own intimate relationship. This is dangerous for those who are married or are even just in a relationship because sex tends to be an important factor in healthy relationships.
Because so many people view pornography as sexual expression, there are several different categories and types of porn, often which involve violence and degradation, subtle or extreme. The violence and degradation involved in porn is, more often than not, aimed toward women, which leads to a larger generalization of attitudes toward women. In a paper by Mary Anne Layden, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, she points out that pornography is an effective teacher because it includes all the elements of learning that solidify a principle: “images, arousal, reinforcement, the example of others, and reward.” When people regularly see in pornography how women are reduced to a sexual object whose purpose is to please and concede to a man, it becomes acceptable behavior, even outside a sexual realm. This is a treacherous principle to be instilling in people’s heads, especially children, as porn becomes more easily obtained on the internet. For this reason, internet users and parents particularly need to learn what they and their children can be exposed to and take preventative measures.
Besides the other problems involved in pornography, one of the main issues, especially today, is children’s exposure to porn. According to the Society Pages, almost 20% of both boys and girls are exposed to pornography without seeking it out by ages 10 or 11. Having kids see the obscene material that pornography is comprised of is hazardous to their sexual development because they are not very educated on the subject to begin with. A New York Times article discussed a study where adolescents ages 16 to 18 were asked how viewing porn affected them and their collective answer was that it “had an impact on their body image, on what young people think sex should be like, and what they could expect from sex.” No one wants their children’s sexual education to come from porn found on the internet where they will be taught that male domination is what sex is about and that it’s okay to treat women disrespectfully. Children are so vulnerable to new information; preventing pornography exposure to young children will ensure a healthier sexual development because it will give them a chance to learn about healthy and safe sex that comes from communication and intimacy.
While the definition of pornography is blurry and subjective, the damage that results from it is undeniable. The best way to stop this epidemic in its tracks is to spread the word. Being educated on the prevalence of porn on the internet and how it affects viewers helps us know how we can protect ourselves and others from the risks that come from it. One crucial thing that parents can do is teach their children at an early age the concepts of respect and equality so that if they do come across profane forms of porn they can know what is right and wrong. One way that this could be implemented is through sexual education in schools because it’s just as important as any other topic taught there because it contributes to the current rape culture. In an article about teen porn education by Nicole Guappone, she writes that Christian Graugaard, who is a sexology professor in Denmark, said that students age 13 and older [and even adults] need to learn about pornography in order to “differentiate between pornography and the reality of sexual relationships.”
Since pornography, and obscenity in general, are so ambiguous and are referred to often as a type of expression, it can be hard to control and prevent because people argue that it is a violation of free speech. The only type of porn that is strictly illegal is any type of child porn in order to protect children. But really any porn is harmful to young people, though its destruction is much more indirect than child pornography itself. There have been several cases over the past decades taken to the Supreme Court about what is considered obscene and allowed to be viewed by the public, and there has never been a clear answer as to what obscenity actually is. In Jacobellis v. Ohio, a film was taken into consideration about whether or not it was actually considered obscene material. While the overall decision was that it was actually protected by the First Amendment and appropriate for the public, there was not a single reason why it was not considered obscenity. The subjectivity of obscenity is one reason that education would become an issue to solve the issue of pornography. Everyone has their own opinion on what is appropriate for the public and will want to view those types of materials, which makes the dangers of pornography seem trivial to someone who thinks a certain piece of material is not obscene at all. Despite personal opinions and desires though, the effects of porn are still pertinent. Another issue with simply educating others about the problem is that it would be slow going. The porn industry has become widespread as it has multiplied on the internet like bacteria in a warm and humid room. Education alone is a small step in the battle with pornography, but it’s a sure start to get people to be aware of the endangerments that come from it.
There are several ways to combat pornography in your community and in your own home, like installing a software that keeps obscene material from your computer. Sharing your knowledge with others is also very valuable and is easily done, thanks to the internet. Post a blog or social media post, or even write an article and post it online for others to view. You can also either start your own social program or get involved in one like the one available here in Arizona, Fight the New Drug, and learn how to be protected against the dangers of pornography.
So at first glance, all we’d see is a hint of bare skin when it comes to pornography and obscene material. But with a longer look we can see its toxic and parasitic nature toward its viewers, specifically to young people and their sexual development, as we would see further into categories like rape, crying, vomiting/gagging, and other scenarios that degrade women. It would be in our best interest to take action to prevent the damage that can be done by pornography so that not only sexual relationships can be safer and more intimate but also social relationships can be more respectful and equal.