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Impact on Teenagers

• Teens watch porn as an exciting and risk taking activity

• Teens also watch porn to gain a better understanding of sexual intimacy among their peer group

• Some violent and exaggerated depictions of sexual intercourse can serve as a bad example for teens, painting an unrealistic picture of sex and relationships

• Teens who frequent pornographic websites are reportedly less aware about the concept of “consent”

• Pornographic addiction is similar to substance addiction. The dopamine levels in the brain spike up for an addict, every time he/she views porn for self- gratification

• The addicted person has an urge to repeat the activity that led to release of dopamine during the porn.

• Brain starts releasing dopamine at the though of porn or sexual fantasy, which compels the person to watch the content again and again

• This ruins the need of an intimate relationship. Sex merely becomes an act for hormonal rush

• Porn can induce sexually aggressive behavior

• Porn can also cause the teenager to indulge in an earlier sexual encounter 

• It also impacts the concept of self image in boys and girls, reducing their confidence about their physical appearance

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Impact on Relationships

• People conditioned by porn seek instant gratification and dopamine rush

• Seeking an instant dopamine rush can make one’s partner uncomfortable, creating a lot of hurdles in a relationship

• Many porn addicts have reported to have engaged in non-consensual intercourse with their partners, to imitate what they view on pornographic websites

• This can harm the relationship because sexual gratification and achieving an orgasm becomes more important than the emotional intimacy of a relationship

• Porn leads to lower sexual satisfaction as it sets unrealistic expectations

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Healthy Porn Consumption

The negative effects of pornography can be reduced if the consumption of porn is healthy. This requires the person to remember a few important pointers:

• Pornography is not realistic and it doesn't replace sex education

  • It is very important to remember that pornography is a portrayal of sexual fantasies

  • It does not serve as an example of what happens in real life and how things function in real life

• Be open about the consumption of porn with your partner​

  • If the partner approves, try to share the experience

  • Sneaking around and watching pornography can cause tensions in a relationship

• Be aware of multiple categories in porn

  • It is important to remember that there exists many forms of pornography and some forms can reinforce some negative fantasies

  • Porn with rape fantasies, violent sexual encounter or incest must be avoided to prevent any reinforcement

  • Most of these categories are shot only for making money. They do not depict healthy relationships

• Self exploration

  • Porn can help those who have been very reserved about their sexual desires and want to expand their horizons to explore fantasies

  • It is important to maintain an open dialogue about pornography with friends and/or the partner to remove any taboo or misconceptions

• Avoid pornography before any real life sexual experience

  • Teenagers or adults who watch porn before they experience any sexual intimacy in real life can develop the wrong frame of reference regarding sex