Porn literacy - The need of the hour

By Moksha Garg and Thanmaya Prakash

Porn literacy is a form of media literacy. Picture credits: thedawnrehab.com

In today’s digital age, where almost everything is just a click away, pornography has become more accessible than ever before. It has become a significant aspect of not only an adult’s life but also a teen's life. Many young and unaware people are getting their sex education from mainstream pornography, which is problematic and shows an unrealistic presentation of sex.

It is important that parents, schools, and other institutes talk about this miseducation of sex as not only is it presented in a wrong way, but it also affects their brains. Even if we, as ‘responsible’ adults, tell the youth not to look at porn, they will stumble upon it one way or the other. Ignoring porn or telling teens to avoid it without a proper explanation of its effects will make them less likely to approach an adult and ask questions about sex. Not giving the youth porn literature might signal that sex is a shameful topic and that they’ll be punished once adults discover what prompted their questions. Discussions around porn can help in critical thinking and encourage teens to approach trusted adults when in doubt. It is better that they confide in an adult rather than seek answers from the internet and porn websites.

“What happens is, usually kids or adults do not reveal that they are watching porn. Children, after they reach puberty, understand what sexuality and everything is. Instead of watching porn, it is better if they are taught sex education in schools. Watching porn does not have any literary value, so schools must take the initiative to create awareness among the children. The school and parents must take responsibility,” said Mallika Raghavendra, a psychiatrist.

She further said that the schools must impart healthy education on the female and male bodies and on the reproduction process. Teachers must be trained to impart knowledge to the kids. Only then will the children be able to understand the process and will not have to try to gain knowledge through porn and other means.

What is porn literacy?

Porn literacy is a form of media literacy teaching individuals to think, analyse and evaluate the media they choose to consume and the media they are surrounded by, such as advertisements and billboards. Everything disseminates a message, and knowing how, why and for whom the content is created will help youth understand what they see and hear in a better way. It will prompt them to make healthy decisions for themselves.

Effect of porn on the brain

Pornographic videos and images stimulate the part of the brain that releases dopamine. It makes us feel good when we enjoy sex or food or buy a new pair of shoes. The image of porn itself is hyper-stimulating, releasing high levels of dopamine.

Frequent viewing of porn can leave the brain unresponsive to natural sources of pleasure and can mess with our natural ability to produce dopamine. According to some studies, anything that leads to significant changes in the transmission of dopamine can lead to anxiety and depression, which might be the reason why frequent porn consumers report more significant depressive symptoms, poorer mental health, and lower life quality compared to those who don’t watch pornographic content.

“Anything excessive will affect the brain. Watching porn every day is not healthy, then the addicts will have to be treated as an addition and cured like an addiction.

The overconsumption of porn videos leads to addiction which further develops into anxiety when they aren’t watching. Addiction always leads to harmful effects. We have come across a lot of cases like these,” said Dr. Mallika.

According to a study, frequent porn consumption can also affect our sexual scripts, which are our sexual interests, expectations, and behaviors. Online pornography projects a uniform sexual script of female degradation, objectification, and male violence toward them. The study showed that the more pornography a man watches, the higher the chances of him using it during sex. He might request similar sexual acts from his partner and generate images of pornography during intercourse to maintain arousal. High pornography consumption can lead to lesser enjoyment of intimate behaviors and more concerns over body image and sexual performance.

Dr. Mallika said that the acts performed in porn videos are unrealistic. This leads to a higher expectation that is different from reality. “People have to be realistic about their expectations only then their sexual relations will be better. People must be mature enough to understand that porn isn’t the reality,” she said.

Several studies show that about 14% to 35% of young men go through erectile dysfunction, which is much higher than the 2% to 3% number in 2002. This is a complex issue as it can relate to many factors, including alcohol use, drugs, stress, depression, and anxiety. But some experts also believe that compulsive or/and frequent porn consumption can be a vital factor in this percentage rise as it overlaps with the availability of free online porn sites.

“Yes, what happens is, a section of people who are addicted to porn do not have a satisfactory marriage nor a relationship. The high and unrealistic expectation of porn viewers might lead to erectile dysfunction,” she said.

Conversations around porn literacy

When it comes to teaching porn literacy, it can lead to concerns related to porn as an industry; lack of emotional intimacy; how women have been treated; STI status and consent; feelings before, during, and after watching porn; porn as fantasy, and use of condoms. It might also touch upon the possible negative effects on people with poor body image and their expectations around sex and romantic/ sexual relationships.

The purpose of porn literacy is to provide an outline of concerns to help guide conversations. While viewpoints on porn may vary, educators and youth-serving adults must remain neutral on their views and acknowledge that curiosity about sex and sexuality is normal human behavior.