Easy access to pornography online is causing children and young people to start watching it at increasingly younger ages, leading to potential distortions of their sexuality, world view, and mental health, according to several organizations and experts. This trend can lead to unhealthy sexual relationships and delayed sexual debuts.
Licensed psychologist David Madsen, specializing in digital health, has observed that young people exposed to pornography often encounter extremely boundary-crossing content, characterized by patriarchal and male-dominated themes, such as anal sex and strangulation. This exposure can significantly color the sexual perceptions of young people before they have real-world experiences, leading to a “spillover effect” where their initial sexual encounters are not aligned with their own desires or the desires of their partners.
Furthermore, Madsen argues that pornography can create an unhealthy frame of reference for young people entering sexual relationships. It can influence women to believe they should behave in ways depicted in pornography and place undue performance pressure on young men before they have gained any sexual experience. This can lead to both partners feeling dissatisfied and unable to connect authentically.
The absence of the initial phases and emotions associated with real-life sexual relationships in pornography, such as nervousness and considerations for the other person, can also have detrimental effects on mental health. Madsen notes that prolonged exposure to pornography can lead to stress, anxiety, sadness, and a decreased motivation to pursue real-world relationships. Many of the young people he encounters in his practice express a desire to overcome their addiction and regain control over their sexuality.
Madsen suggests that an age limit for pornography should be implemented, ideally after a healthy childhood and the development of genuine infatuation. He believes it is crucial to shield children from violent and abusive content that can inhibit their development. The EU is currently working on introducing age verification requirements for pornography websites to protect minors.
Madsen concludes that as long as pornography remains easily accessible online, it is unrealistic to expect children and young people to differentiate between what is healthy and unhealthy for them to view. He describes the situation as an “evolutionary crisis”, answering with a resounding yes to whether it would be better if no one watched the type of pornography that is available online.