The adult industry is a billion-dollar market with consumers all over the world and a significant influence on individuals contributing to its development. The increasing rate of sex content uploaded online is a direct effect of global digitalization and the relatively easy access to platforms that list such videos and pictures. According to researchers, porn is a highly debatable subject that creates two separate parties consisting of supporters and critiques (Macleod 58). On one side, people claim porn allows individuals to become self-sufficient, have legal income without prior education, and openly exemplify their sexuality, contributing to a less judgmental societal base. However, there are several negative implications that correlate with the pornographic world. The sex industry can be significantly harmful by taking advantage of vulnerable individuals, perpetuating objectification, and negatively impacting people’s overview of sexual activities. Hence, porn is unethical since it contributes to the objectification of individuals, leads to adverse impacts on mental health, and perpetuates unrealistic views on sex.
Digital Advancement: How Porn Became a Billion Dollar Industry
While adult movies have been around for a long time, the industry has never been as proficient and successful in terms of the amount of content produced and revenue operated. Since most people have devices that can be used for recording, new videos and photos are updated every minute. Moreover, studios are also operating their businesses in a way that the companies put out as many films as possible to satisfy the ever-changing consumer demand. It is certain that as more individuals are becoming tech-savvy or acquiring smartphones and tablets, the market for such content increases exponentially. Such an overwhelming demand for adult movies contributes to the market’s activity and the creation of more adult content that is then shared through online platforms or streaming services.
Victims of the Adult Industry
As the industry keeps growing and demanding new talents, more males and females decide to engage in performing sexual acts on camera. However, this increases the risk for potential victims of discrimination, objectification, and dehumanization. An example of discrimination is the categorization of both males and females as an intent to appeal to the consumer’s preferences. Jones II (60) specifically mention how black men are portrayed in adult movies through labels, stereotypes, and fantasies rather than as individuals. Language on erotic platforms is simplified and based on existing stigma. Describing people based on their skin color, bodies, hair color, and orientation is not only discriminatory but also objectifying.
Objectivation is at the core of pornography since the performer’s appearance is usually the critical aspect. Moreover, such narrow overviews of individuals performing on camera lead to further depreciation of them as people and a tendency to consider them merely objects used by viewers for pleasure. Researchers mention that adult films are primarily prone to dehumanizing females (Neufeld 703). There is significant evidence that supports this notion.
One example is the use of derogatory words in regards to female performers in titles and video descriptions. Furthermore, the women are often portrayed as merely sexual fantasies while totally disregarding realistic sexual behavior or scenarios that resemble real life. This is why so many videos illustrate plots revolving around the most common sexual fantasies men have. Statistics show that men are the primary viewers of pornographic content (Johnson). Hence, studios upload content that would satisfy the vast majority of their audience, which primarily consists of men.
Illegal Content: Revenge Porn
A new genre that has been circulating adult platforms is revenge porn. While professional studios have certain rules and policies in regards to the well-being of the performers, amateur content is very rarely regulated since no website has the capability to assess such a vast array of content uploaded every day. A downside of such poor management is the frequent appearance of illegal materials. An example of such implication is the rising concern of revenge porn.
Revenge porn is the adult content uploaded without the consent of one party that participated in the intercourse. It is usually perpetrated by males who film and upload pornographic materials without prior discussions with the female. Bates (22) refers to the victims as experiencing significant physiological damage due to such practices. This can lead to depression, anxiety, and even suicidal thoughts due to women’s shame and vulnerability when their private lives become public without any agreement. Other types of videos involving minors are also creating significant problems since it is both illegal and immoral. Such implications illustrate the next negative concept that correlates with porn, which is a lack of strict regulations.
A Lack of Adequate Regulations
The sex industry as a whole is often linked to specific health concerns, ethical issues, and potential victimization of both performance and viewers. While the domain itself is prone to problems on multiple levels, there is not enough regulation to address or mitigate them. Researchers point out that implementing a policy that would promote the use of condoms in adult movies has been negatively viewed by performers themselves (Lee and Sullivan 104). Furthermore, the type of content that is being uploaded is not adequately monitored. While it is illegal to film specific videos, some of the movies that do not fall under prohibited categories can be extremely violent, inappropriate, and psychologically damaging for viewers and participants.
Often, videos involving physical, verbal, and physiological abuse are deemed appropriate as long as all performers give consent. However, it is hard to assess how the consent was given, what the implications could have been, and whether all participants were fully aware of what they had agreed to. This highlights the issue mentioned before, which is dehumanization. Viewers may watch disturbing content without realizing that real people are involved. It creates a dangerous space where adult actors and actresses are unable to satisfy consumer demand, which leads to them engaging in uncomfortable and unsafe practices.
While certain people in the industry follow ethical and legal guidelines when it comes to hiring new talents, discussing consent before the shoot, and making sure the performer is aware of all the implications, these steps are often skipped. The situation illustrates that following all the possible regulations and procedures is merely impossible, which means that the industry itself cannot be entirely ethical. Hence, performers are often disregarded and exploited to the extent of moral burnout, psychological damage, and physical harm.
Performers: Financial and Social Vulnerability
Choosing sex as a profession requires a specific personality and open-mildness. However, there are multiple cases when doing adult work is, seemingly, the only escape from a harmful situation that various people experience and do not have the skills to cope with it. It is certain that the number of individuals who consider entering the business due to lack of financial resources, broken homes, and traumatic childhoods is significant. Waltman refers to the adult industry as praying on people who come from poverty, drug use, and childhood sexual abuse. Such individuals do not have many opportunities in life since they did not have the chance to receive a good education, parental guidance, and some training that would allow them to be financially successful.
This is why males and females choose to enter the business with the predisposed notion that being sex workers means easy money, popularity, and a stable income. However, the stress that the job correlates with and the boundaries that they have to cross often lead to adverse moral and physical outcomes.
Porn Consumers: Children
As mentioned prior, the target audience that tends to engage in watching adult content is male. However, the age varies, and there are no exact statistics since it is a taboo subject and minors are not allowed on such websites. Needless to say, children are exposed to pornographic content since the only authorization step is clicking a button that states the viewer is old enough to visit the platform. Hence, minors without any supervision systems installed on their devices by parents or tutors can freely access any age-restricted video or picture with no repercussions. Children may be negatively affected by such practices on multiple different levels.
First, it is essential to mention that a person with no prior sexual experience or basic knowledge on the subject may interpret porn as something genuine and educational. Researchers refer to educators who are confused in regards to approaching the subject efficiently since adult content has become such an important educational tool for minors (Goldstein 59). As a result, the viewers have a skewed perspective in regards to sex, relationship, boundaries, and consent. It is vital for young children who do not have the experience, knowledge, and judgment to differentiate performance from real life.
Another implication that creates adverse outcomes for minors is a lack of conversation with parents, teachers, educators, or tutors regarding pornography, sex, and hormonal changes that influence their impulses to view adult content. Hutchings mentions that in situations when erotic content is the only available sexual education information, the child tends to have unrealistic overviews. While such films are intended to be adult entertainment, there are no adequate ways of preventing kids from accessing them. It can lead to further dehumanization of future romantic partners and unattainable expectations.
Negative Effects on Mental Health
An essential argument against the porn industry is the fact that it negatively impacts individuals on a physiological level. As mentioned before, there is evidence suggesting that watching adult videos may lead to the development of unattainable expectations, dehumanization of sexual partners, and an unhealthy relationship with sex overall. While being in the industry directly impacts performers who earn money by doing sex work, consumers are just as prone to experiencing risks due to the consumption of such content. There are several reasons why people choose to engage in viewing adult videos.
Due to the fast development of the technological aspect, porn has become a significant point of interest. According to researchers, three concepts that make erotic content attractive for the consumer are how accessible it is, the fact that it is free, and the potential to remain anonymous and avoid societal repercussions (de AlarcĂłn et al. 91). Viewers can easily access free content online without being concerned about leaving digital footprints such as names, dates of birth, and other information that can become public. Since adult content is so widely available, there is a significant risk for developing addictions or unhealthy behavior.
The erotic industry aims to satisfy consumer demand, and since customers differ in terms of fantasies, the content varies. However, some of the materials available online portray violence and abuse towards both men and women. It is essential to mention that there is evidence that links certain physiological disorders to specific pornography. According to Pina (31), individuals who enjoy taboo content such as revenge porn are prone to showing symptoms of psychopathy. There is no data in regards to how engaging in such activities affects psychopaths. Yet, there are concerns regarding fantasies vs action. For example, Gabriel (83) mentions the increasing rate of adult scenes simulating rape. While there is no information about a direct correlation between the videos individuals watch and the fantasies that develop afterward, the popularity of such content is worrying.
Porn addiction is another concerning subject that is new to the field of psychology. Researchers mention that people diagnosed with hypersexual disorders are most vulnerable to becoming addicted to adult content (de AlarcĂłn et al. 91). It is essential to point out that having this problem correlates with isolation, loss of control, and increasing interest in risky behavior. Addicts feel the need to consume pornography on a daily basis, which interferes with their personal, professional, and social livelihood. A solution is limiting access to online porn, therapy, or even medication. Such a drastic approach accentuates the severity of the problem and the significance of its impact on the population.
Perpetuating Unrealistic Standards
As mentioned prior, children are vulnerable compared to other porn consumers due to their inability to differentiate reality from fiction. However, they are not the primary audience that studios target. Moreover, people cannot legally access such content before they are 18, which gives a minor yet fair argument towards websites restricting their content. However, adults are also vulnerable when it comes to subconsciously altering their views based on the adult content they consume. Harvey (31) highlights how erotic content may interfere with a person’s ability to maintain high self-esteem and an objective assessment of others. There are several concepts that become compromised because of restricted content.
The first one is how females are viewed by males who often watch adult movies. This notion is highlighted by the way female performers look and the things they appear to enjoy in the videos. Men frequently make parallels between virtual images and reality, which leads to high expectations regarding their partners’ sexual preferences and looks. In reality, the sexual scenes do not always correspond with the desires of people in real life, which leaves some individuals disappointed and dissatisfied.
Another negative impact linked to high expectations is how individuals view themselves in comparison to the performers. This relates to body issues or even body dysmorphia. Similarly to how the modeling industry experienced backlash due to promoting eating disorders in young girls and promoting unattainable beauty standards, the adult business may affect the population in the same way. Hong and Hong (61) make a parallel between poor body image and depression. This conclusion illustrates how unrealistic views on sex and physical appearance can compromise one’s mental well-being.
Another significant implication is the deteriorated view of sex. Pornography is notoriously famous for portraying sexual activities in a way that they do not resemble real life. For example, the majority of content involves practices that can be labeled as physical abuse. Research shows that more than 50% of scenes on one of the most visited porn sites contain some form of violence, primarily towards women (Fritz et al. 3041). Since a vast majority of films illustrate this behavior, it is evident that most consumers watch it. Hence, a large number of people are at risk of having unhealthy views on sex. This can negatively affect the person watching such content and the partners who are expected to show the same behavior as the one portrayed in the videos.
Conclusion
While pornography has become so easily accessible relatively recently due to the fast technological development, it is certain that it has negatively affected the population on multiple levels. Both adult performers and consumers of such content have been experiencing the adverse effects of porn. Actors are frequently violated both mentally and physically, while viewers can often see damage to their mental well-being, sexual lives, and body image. Evidence shows that watching porn correlates with dehumanization, higher risks for addiction, and sexual objectification. Such significant impacts highlight that the adult industry is harmful to individuals who frequently view adult content online and have a distorted overview of sex because of it.
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