The increase in sexual assaults among young people seems to have a direct relationship with the consumption of pornography in adolescents. Each time they start to see it earlier, and end up reproducing it. This is what Lluís Ballester, PhD in Sociology and professor at the University of the Balearic Islands (UIB) points out. An expert on the impact of porn on young people, he warns that getting started in sexuality in this way diseducates the use of condoms and respect for others, among other things.
What is the relationship between the increase in sexual assaults and the consumption of pornography?
There is a coincidence in time of the systematic increase in the viewing of violent pornography by a part of young people and the reproduction of what they have seen in porn. And they film their criminal acts and distribute them on networks. Emulation with porn is only complete when they put it into circulation and show themselves as protagonists. This is indicative of a relationship. In the trials of the groups involved, porn appears as a defense: “I was doing something I’ve seen a thousand times”. The speech is meant to be exculpatory, but it shows an undeniable influence.
Are they more interested in porn or do they have easier access to it?
We distinguish three issues that are linked to it. Access, which has been greatly facilitated and has increased with the screens. The companies have known how to attract young people and have done very smart marketing by buying the domain positions in the search engines with the sexually significant words. You put “breasts” on it and you get porn. Consumption has also increased: there is a process of getting used to it and the challenge of seeing who finds the most powerful things has become widespread. And they go from a content that was not so violent to another that is more so. And the consequences of this and problematic consumption are very important.
Does consuming pornography increase sexual aggression?
It can be seen as a relevant predictor in cases of problematic consumption, which affects 25% of teenagers. The level of consumption is much higher in this range. Problem drinking is not necessarily a predictor of aggressive behavior. It can also be others.
Which ones?
Of risky behaviors. Not using condoms is a notorious one.
They consume porn and imitate it.
There is behavior modeling that makes you learn behaviors even if you don’t realize it. If 25% of teenagers watch more than 1,000 hours of porn, they learn that it is rare to use a condom, or that there is no seduction. The consensus of practices disappears because they do not talk about what to do. There is no expression of the desire of women or people who are in a non-dominant position. And I’ve noticed introduction of small violence… or big. Suffocation used to be very rare in sexual relations between teenagers and is now becoming a repeated practice. Or pull your hair. Or spit And they are already part of what is being done.
Do they imitate and do they feel compelled to access practices?
Yes. It is changing the pattern of sexuality. There are three criteria for having sexual relations in equality, freedom and non-violence. One is the secure link. The other is the consensus of practices. And the third is shared pleasure. Regular porn viewing diseducates us in all three. No one would accept a 13-year-old boy buying a ticket to see a porno. But in his room, no limit, no one cares. We are cynical if we accept this!
What impact does regular porn use have on young boys?
It changes perceptions. In porn they refer to them as “slut” or “slut” and they are superheroes. It also affects the rejection of one’s own body, because in porn there is a bodily hierarchy. That’s why there have never been as many labiaplasties as there are now in teenagers. And it affects the naturalization of violence. There are increases in sexual violence at all levels, but especially among teenagers. And there is no restriction on the distribution of these contents.
could it be done
Yes. Much progress has been made in facial recognition: put your face to let you access. And there are the parental controls. 13% of male teenagers watch porn from 12 at night. An hour of porn plus an hour of networking means you won’t be able to pay attention in class the next day. This disconnects them from the educational process.
Do you need to limit access to porn?
I could not say at what age the limit should be, but digital education is necessary, because once a technology enters and becomes widespread, it is difficult to take steps back.
What can we do?
Have a film industry that shows healthy sexuality scaled by age. It should be used by the education system.
Do young people have healthy sexuality?
Mostly yes. Of the 25% of problematic consumption there is a resilient part that does not develop toxic or violent behavior. But if it toxically affects 10% or 15%, it is already unacceptable.
Is more legislation needed?
The main option is awareness and affective education. And digital education. But also improve the regulations. We propose some priority actions.
Which is?
Ensure that effective age verification systems are applied; measures to eliminate and sanction the publication of extreme and violent pornography; that by law all devices with an internet connection for sale in Spain have parental controls activated by default, or modify the Penal Code to guarantee the prosecution of platforms that allow minors access to pornographic materials. And also that extreme and violent pornography is a crime.
What advice do you have for families?
Be cautious in accessing technologies; use, in a negotiated way, effective parental controls; promote critical thinking; to support educational initiatives, and not to think that everything is solved by banning.
And the young people?
That they be informed, that they participate in the activities of their schools and neighborhoods; that they remember that when a product is “free” they must be suspicious; that they don’t sext on social networks, and that they don’t accept practices that don’t bring them pleasure and that they don’t do it without consent. That they recover relationships based on a secure bond, respect and the avoidance of violence.
