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Adolescence, Pornography and Harm

NCJ Number
226656
Author(s)
Colleen Bryant
Date Published
February 2009
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This paper examines social factors that place young people at increased risk of exposure, or of experiencing potentially negative outcomes from early exposure, to pornography.
Abstract
Males may be most vulnerable to harmful effects of pornography due to typically earlier and greater exposure and greater exposure in unregulated markets and because sexual focus in male homosociality both encourages use and endorses its most problematic aspects. Even though restricting exposure remains a priority, an over-reliance on this approach to protect against the perceived harms of pornography fails to recognize the realities of ready availability and the high acceptance of pornography among young people, and it fails to examine the holistic way in which adolescents’ sexual expectations, attitudes, and behaviors are shaped in society and the complexity of factors that give rise to the cited harms. To protect young people requires equipping them with adequate knowledge, skills and resources to enable successful navigation toward a sexually healthy adulthood and tackling factors predisposing to sexual violence. Further research is recommended to assess patterns of pornography use over time; correlates of harm; pornography use in defining and enacting adolescent sexuality; how emerging media will change exposure; and the cultural impacts of usage. The probability that young persons will have exposure to pornography prior to the age of 18 is very high. Drawing on recent Australian and international research, this paper examines the degree and risks of pornography exposure focusing on demographic, social, and personal characteristics. 1 figure and 23 references