Poster #58 - Pornography use Among Teens

• In Event: Poster Session 04

Abstract

As we continue to move online for many of our social interactions, the internet has become a place of exploration for many young people. The ubiquity of the internet means that young people have constant access to online spaces in ways that can be difficult for parents or caregivers to police and exposure to sensitive and potentially harmful content can occur intentionally and unintentionally. This unique study captures explicit media viewership during a time of critical sexual development.

Exposure to pornography has been linked to a number of negative effects. Some studies have found that adolescents' pornography use is related to stronger gender-sterotypical sexual beliefs (e.g., Peter & Valkenburg, 2007), stronger permissive sexual attitudes (e.g., Brown & L’Engle, 2009), and increased risk of sexual aggression (e.g., Wright, Paul, & Herbenick, 2021). The increase in online pornography brings unique challenges compared to traditional print forms as it is readily available, harder for parents to monitor, and can be accessed on mobile devices nearly anywhere and at any time. A United Kingdom report by Martellozzo and colleagues (2017) found that 28% of 11-12 year-olds and 65% of 15-16 year-olds had reported seeing pornography. Another study found 42% of 10-17 year olds have seen pornography online, with 27% saying they intentionally viewed such materials (Wright & Donnerstein, 2014). Unintentional viewing of pornography is also high among adolescents. A report by Hardy and colleagues (2013) found that 68% of adolescents in the United States had ever unintentionally encountered pornography. However, there has been scant detailed research on what teens’ pornography experiences are like in the United States, especially in the last decade.

To better understand the types of online pornography that teenagers are exposed to, both intentionally and accidentally, we are currently conducting a study of approximately 1,000 children ages 13-17 years old. The study aims to better understand the types of pornography that teenagers view, frequency of viewing, age of first exposure, feelings about the realism of the content, and the extent to which teens are having discussions with parents or caregivers about online pornography. Additionally, we are oversampling LGBTQ+ youth in order to examine the viewing patterns of understudied sexual minority teens. Data collection will be completed by the end of September, 2022, and analysis will consider gender, age, and ethnicity differences in pornography exposure, willingness to talk to others about pornography, and perceptions of pornography.

With more information about teenagers' pornography viewing, we can better educate parents and teens about the effects of pornography, and advise on how to have better discussions about teens’ experiences.

Authors

• Supreet Mann, Common Sense Media
  Presenting Author

• Michael Robb, Common Sense Media