Is Calling Porn a Public Health Concern an Overreach?

Disclaimer: Fight the New Drug is not a religious or faith-based organization. We are also non-legislative. We do not support taking away adults’ rights to access legal forms of pornography. However, we are committed to supporting efforts that fight against sex trafficking and protect children from easily accessing hardcore pornography.

In the past couple of years, some state resolutions were passed by legislatures recognizing pornography as a public health concern.

For example, one declaration stated:

“Pornography is a public health hazard leading to a broad spectrum of individual and public health impacts and societal harms.”

The above resolution further stated that it recognized:

“The need for education, prevention, research, and policy change at the community and societal level in order to address the pornography epidemic that is harming the citizens of [our state and] nation.” [1]

Some states have passed similar resolutions with great success.

• The Virginia State House passed their resolution with an 82–8 majority.
• The South Dakota State House and Senate passed their resolution unanimously and without any opposition.

Other states (16 as of 2021) have done the same thing — to officially recognize the harm porn has caused.

1. Alabama
2. Arkansas
3. Arizona
4. Florida
5. Idaho
6. Kansas
7. Kentucky
8. Louisiana
9. Missouri
10. Montana
11. Oklahoma
12. Pennsylvania
13. South Dakota
14. Tennessee
15. Utah
16. Virginia

Additionally, Canada’s House of Commons voted unanimously in 2016 to conduct a country-wide study examining “the public health effects of online pornography.” Many other countries are conducting their own research as well.

The National Response

It’s been interesting to see how the nation has responded to these resolutions about porn’s impacts. A portion of the public is relieved that the acknowledgment of porn’s harmful effects is finally happening. Many have had personal experiences with porn’s negative impacts on their lives and relationships, believing that the public health issues porn contributes to have been long ignored.

Unfortunately, others have spoken out about how such resolutions are actually causing more problems than they solve.

There are three general concerns or claims some people have about taking the public health approach:

1. They bring too much attention to porn, overshadowing other issues.
2. They will lead to internet censorship.
3. The science doesn’t back up the claim.

Let’s take a deeper look at each of these concerns.

Addressing 3 Concerns about Labeling Porn a Public Health Issue

Each of the above concerns about labeling porn a public health issue by states is not backed by reputable information from respected academic institutions. Here is what the experts say about them.

1. “Pornography Is Receiving Too Much Attention”

Some think focusing on pornography as a public health concern takes attention and resources away from other important societal issues.

Consider these two quotes from a newspaper’s comment board:

“I think it’s pretty silly to be talking about pornography or whatever. There’s more issues that are more important. Like terrorism, our borders, our economy… We shouldn’t be worried about pornography.”

“We’ve got bigger things that need to be looked at than, you know, something like that — What does porn have to do with a public health crisis?”

Fight the New Drug has never believed that porn is the only (or even the most significant) societal problem. Recognizing pornography as one of them doesn’t take away from or argue against any other worthy issue. For example, if someone is concerned about the environment, they can still care about equal rights. Likewise, someone who is concerned about the economy can still care about sexual exploitation.

Fortunately, there isn’t a limit to the number of societal issues that one can support.

Pornography isn’t the only public health concern out there by any means, but that doesn’t mean its harms shouldn’t be recognized and addressed.

2. “Pornography Resolutions Will Lead to Censorship”

Are legislatures exaggerating the problem of porn? Are resolutions an infringement on personal rights and sexual freedom? Do these resolutions against pornography lead to censorship of the internet? These are concerns some people have regarding resolutions.

The interesting thing is that the resolutions brought forward or passed have not included limits or censors in any way regarding adult porn consumption. What the resolutions are really about is more education and safeguards for children and teens and elevating the existing research that shows porn’s harmful effects.

It’s worth considering that educating consumers about the possible negative effects of their choices isn’t censorship. In fact, it gives people more freedom to choose what they actually want to do, to be fully aware of what those choices mean for them and what implications they may have over time.

Ultimately, Fight the New Drug maintains a non-religious and non-legislative stance regarding education about pornography consumption.

3. “Claims of the Harmful Effects of Pornography Are Unfounded”

Typically, the claim that there is “no good science” regarding the public health concerns of pornography is unfounded, and the further concern is that state and national resolutions are simply a way to police people’s moral or religious choices.

These types of claims:

• Are not backed by research
• Do not address any specific studies
• Have no evidence

How can porn affect public health?

Dr. John D. Foubert is a leading specialist on sexual violence. In a research review article he wrote, he outlines some connections between pornography and public health. [2]

He highlights three areas in particular that show how pornography can impact collective social health:

1. How porn consumption can rewire the brain
2. How porn consumption can contribute to sexual dysfunction.
3. How porn consumption can normalize sexual violence.

Here’s more information about each of these areas.

How Porn Consumption Can Rewire the Brain

Due to neuroplasticity, our behaviors can create and reinforce neural pathways in our brain, which allow for more efficient execution of those behaviors in the future. This is especially concerning considering that neuroscientists have been able to demonstrate that porn consumers’ brain scans showed them reacting to sexualized images of women as if they were objects, rather than people. [3] Dr. Foubert explains that this is dangerous because it is precisely this “process of dehumanizing a person that makes violence against them much more acceptable.”

Similarly, Dr. Foubert discusses neuroscientific evidence which demonstrates that porn consumers are less able to delay gratification, in comparison to individuals who don’t consume pornography. [4] And interestingly enough, brain scans also show that porn consumption can lead to less robust short-term memory. [5]

Pornography Can Contribute to Sexual Dysfunction

Pornography can also rewire the brain when it comes to sex and sexual behavior. Pointing to study findings, Dr. Foubert’s review of the research also demonstrates more devastating impacts, including a growing number of men experiencing erectile dysfunction at younger and younger ages. He suggests that this is directly related to the frequency of porn consumption.

Dr. Foubert says:

“In the 1940s, less than 1% of men under 30 experienced erectile dysfunction (ED). [6] In 1992, 7% of men under 30 experienced ED. [7] Several recent studies now show that 30% of young men experienced ED. [8] In fact, in just the last 10 years, the rate of erectile dysfunction doubled in the U.S. military. [9] If a man’s use reaches the level of addiction, he is 60% more likely to have ED.” [10]

2021 research also shows that compulsive pornography consumption is linked to sexual dysfunction not only for men, but for women also. [11] And according to preliminary findings from a recent survey linking porn to erectile dysfunction:

• Only two-thirds of men using porn said that “sex with a partner was more exciting than watching porn.”
• Almost one-quarter of men under age 35 who use porn reported experiencing some erectile dysfunction while having sex with a partner.

Pornography Normalizes Sexual Violence

The high amounts of sexual aggression and violence portrayed in pornography can have serious negative impacts on young people’s expectations of sex — and of their sexual partners — that aren’t healthy.

Dr. Foubert says:

“There are over 100 studies showing that pornography use is both correlated with and is the cause (shown through experimental studies) of a wide range of violent behaviors. Over 50 studies show a strong connection between pornography and sexual violence. The results are the same in correlational, cross-sectional, experimental, and longitudinal studies: pornography use and acts of sexual aggression are directly connected.”

Again:

“Pornography use increases the likelihood that a man will commit sexual violence against a woman, particularly if the man has other risk factors for committing sexual violence like being impulsive, and if his use of pornography is frequent.”

In short, Dr. Foubert says the evidence is conclusive. Men who frequently use pornography are more likely to believe strongly in impersonal sex, casual sex, and hostility toward women, even though:

“Frequent pornography use by itself is not a singular, direct cause for sexual assault.”

Let’s Acknowledge the Evidence

For critics to say no evidence exists of the connection between pornography and the brain rewiring process, sexual dysfunction, and sexual violence is untrue. Based on peer-reviewed scientific research, it is clear that there is a connection. It is also clear that even more research is needed to show the full effects on the public’s health as a whole.

With all that is at stake for our youth, it is reasonable to want to give more visibility to existing research and pave the way for further investigation by way of these public health declarations.

Is Fight the New Drug Religiously Affiliated?

Fight the New Drug is not a religious organization. We are non-religious, non-legislative, and we educate on the harmful effects of porn using only science, facts, and personal accounts.

Citations

[1] Concurrent resolution on the public health crisis, 9, S.C.R.Cong. (2016). Retrieved from https://le.utah.gov/~2016/bills/static/SCR009.html

[2] Foubert, John D. (2017). The public health harms of pornography: The brain, erectile dysfunction, and sexual violence. Dignity: A Journal of Sexual Exploitation and Violence. Vol. 2, Issue 3, Article 6. DOI:10.23860/dignity.2017.02.03.06. Available at https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1077&context=dignity, with video version at https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/dignity/vol2/iss3/6/.

[3] Cikara, M., Eberhardt, J. L., & Fiske, S. T. (2011). From agents to objects: sexist attitudes and neural responses to sexualized targets. Journal of cognitive neuroscience, 23(3), 540–551. https://doi.org/10.1162/jocn.2010.21497

[4] Sesen Negash, Nicole Van Ness Sheppard, Nathanial M. Lambert, and Frank D. Fincham, “Trading Later Rewards for Current Pleasure: Pornography Consumption and Delay Discounting,” Journal of Sex Research 53, no. 6 (2015): 689–700.

[5] Christian Laier, Frank P. Schulte, and Matthias Brand, “Pornographic Picture Processing Interferes with Working Memory Performance,” Journal of Sex Research 50, no. 7 (2013): 642–652, doi:10.1080/00224499.2012.716873.

[6] Alfred C. Kinsey, Wardell B. Pomeroy, and Clyde E. Martin, Sexual Behavior in the Human Male (Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Company, 1948); Wilson, ibid.

[7] Edward O. Laumann, Anthony Paik, and Raymond C. Rosen, “Sexual Dysfunction in the United States: Prevalence and Predictors,” Journal of the American Medical Association 281, no. 6 (1999): 537–544, doi:10.1001/jama.281.6.537.

[8] Lucia F. O’Sullivan, Lori A. Brotto, E. Sandra Byers, Jo Anne Majerovich, and Judith A. Wuest, “Prevalence and Characteristics of Sexual Functioning among Sexually Experienced Mid to Late Adolescents,” The Journal of Sexual Medicine 11 (2014): 630–641, doi: 10.1111/jsm.12419; Anaïs Mialon, A. Berchtold, Pierre-André Michaud, Gerhard Gmel, and Joan-Carles Suris, “Sexual Dysfunctions among Young Men: Prevalence and Associated Factors,” Journal of Adolescent Health 51, no. 1 (2012): 25–31, doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2012.01.008.

[9] Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center, “Erectile Dysfunction among Male Active Component Service Members, U.S. Armed Forces,” Monthly Surveillance Monthly Report 21, no. 9 (2014): 13- 16.

[10] Valerie Voon, Thomas B. Mole, Paula Banca, Laura Porter, Laurel Morris, Simon Mitchell, Tatyana R. Lapa, Judy Karr, Neil A. Harrison, Marc N. Potenza, et al. “Neural Correlates of Sexual Cue Reactivity in Individuals with and without Compulsive Sexual Behaviors.” PLoS ONE 9, no. 7 (2014), doi: 10.1371/journl.pone.0102419

[11] Bőthe, B., Tóth-Király, I., Griffiths, M. D., Potenza, M. N., Orosz, G., & Demetrovics, Z. (2021). Are sexual functioning problems associated with frequent pornography use and/or problematic pornography use? Results from a large community survey including males and females. Addictive Behaviors, 112, 106603. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2020.106603