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How porn affects young adults and their relationships

March 29, 2023
Photo Illustration by Audrey Richardson
Photo Illustration by Audrey Richardson —
Photo by Audrey Richardson | The State News

In the digital age, access and consumption of pornography amongst adolescents, including college students, has grown rapidly.

According to a 2016 analysis of online adult traffic data conducted by Michigan State University’s Department of Computer Science, pornography websites have more monthly unique visitors than Netflix, Twitter and Amazon combined.

In the years since, conversations surrounding porn addiction have begged an important question: How does porn actually affect people? 

MSU assistant professor of adolescent sexual socialization Megan Maas discussed in a recent TED Talk a study conducted by her team involving over 2,000 college students. From this study, it was found that less than 7% of participants had parents who discussed pornography and pleasure. 

In addition, out of the 24 U.S. states that require sex education in schools, none require a discussion of pornography or pleasure. These two factors open up a gateway for adolescents to be exposed to internet pornography, which is increasingly accessible today. 

Effects of pornography on individuals can manifest in a number of ways, Maas said.

“We know with correlational research that for young heterosexual men, particularly if they view pornography more frequently,” Maas said. “ If they view pornography that’s more aggressive, then there’s an association between that and having more aggressive sexual attitudes, and having had pressured a partner into sexual acts in real life.” 

John Foubert, founder of One in Four, an organization dedicated to ending rape, also said pornography correlates to harmful sexual problems.

“(Porn causes) depression, anxiety, stress, less sexual and relationship satisfaction,” Foubert said. “Poor quality of life and health, intimacy problems. All of those have been connected in the research to pornography use.” 

Beyond this, increased use of pornography suggests a disconnect from sex in reality. Less than half of women experience an orgasm during sex with men, and some men report having to picture porn in their heads in order to maintain an erection during sex Maas said in her TED Talk. 

Despite both groups experiencing negative effects from pornography consumption, it tends to affect adolescent men and women in different ways.

“There is definitely a consistent gender difference across studies where women seem to be more resilient to any negative effects from pornography use,” Maas said. “But it’s pretty clear that for heterosexual men, more pornography use is not necessarily a good thing. In terms of sexual satisfaction, sexual expectations, feeling disconnected during sex emotionally.” 

Pornography also influences the interpersonal dynamic between men and women in regards to sexual consent. 

“Women tend to internalize the messages that they get through pornography and think that it’s okay, that it’s more acceptable if they’re sexually assaulted,” Foubert said. 

“Some people report never making eye contact even once during the sexual experience,” Maas said in her TED Talk.

The connotations of mainstream pornography also perpetuate harmful messages.

“It’s a message to demean women as much as possible and say that they’re … not worth anything,” Foubert said. 

Due to lack of regulations within the pornography industry, content often involves violent and aggressive behaviors. 

A content analysis of the top 50 pornographic videos revealed that 88.2% of top-rated porn scenes contain physical aggression, which can range in behaviors including gagging, spanking and choking. Additionally, 94% of aggressive acts in pornographic scenes are committed against women.

“It makes a more violent (heterosexual) relationship and potentially a more sexually violent relationship,” Foubert said. 

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