We are a world of consumers. We browse, purchase, read, and view products every day. As consumers, we like to inform ourselves about the things we invest our time and money into. We purchase organic food at our grocery stores; we research a company’s founder before we buy their products and we happily cancel our subscriptions when we learn something about the company that goes against our values. We read reviews thoroughly before we shop online, and we do all of this to make sure we are supporting an industry that is aligned with our principles.
But with pornography, the need to be informed about the product we consume, does not exist.
The devastating number of individuals who develop addictions and destroy their families, marriages, and work lives because of porn, is evidence to this. Viewers are readily consuming pornography without little care about the truth behind the camera. This is problematic because approximately 8-15% of people who use porn will eventually develop a problem with it.
When users readily consume porn without informing themselves of the damaging messages and abuse of the pornography industry, they are putting their lives at risk. The sad truth is a consumer’s addiction to pornography is the goal for this industry that is worth an estimated $97 billion dollars globally.
Addiction is how this harmful business continues to grow and thrive. Meanwhile, that same addiction is damaging the lives of the people who made the industry what it is today.
Unfortunately, adults are not the only uninformed consumers of pornography.
Young, uneducated minds are active pornography consumers, and the harmful effects porn can have on an undeveloped mind is dangerous.
According to the National Center on Sexual Exploitation, “64% of young people, ages 13–24, actively seek out pornography weekly or more often.”
Some of these young people may have never had a conversation about sex before they watched porn for the first time. Porn may be their introduction into sex and intimacy. The lack of sexual education in many of our young people goes hand in hand with the problematic contribution of pornography to our society.
We know the fantasies portrayed in pornography are exactly that; a fantasy. Unfortunately, because these individuals are not fully developed physically, emotionally, or mentally, they absorb the harmful images they see on their screens as reality.
Pornography does not show conversations about consent, or about a partner’s sexual preferences. Most pornography does not show a discussion about safe sex before intercourse.
Instead, users watch videos that display incest, barely legal participants, and aggressive behavior between partners. They watch individuals choke, slap, and aggressively handle each other in the bedroom. They also see the actresses on screen appear to enjoy the physically abusive behavior. These harmful messages are carried into their real-life sexual encounters, and it contributes to the rise in violence and sexual aggression in our society.
As unhealthy depictions of sexual intercourse continue to reach uninformed consumers, the lines of reality and fantasy will remain blurred. While the pornography industry thrives on addicting viewers, the ones who suffer the consequences are those very same individuals.
If you, or someone you know, is struggling with pornography addiction, or needs assistance with speaking to their loved ones about the dangers of pornography, don’t be afraid to ask to ask for help. There are licensed professionals available to speak with you who specialize in the areas of addictions and sex therapy. Please, don’t wait until it is too late.
Bio: Dr. Nazanin Moali is a clinical psychologist, sex expert, sexologist and sex therapist at Oasis2Care in Torrance, California. Dr. Moali has helped couples and individuals overcome sexual concerns, including pornography addiction. She is available for appointments and can be reached at (310) 600-9912.