A parliamentary report from New South Wales in Australia offers a more nuanced view of pornography than is seen in most politically influenced studies. Although finding that Australian teens first access online pornography at an average age of 13, the report suggests they are more sophisticated consumers than is often recognized: they understand it is not realistic, and LGBTQ teens in particular seek it out as a source of enlightenment they find lacking in formal sex education. The report does acknowledge its potential impact on negative body image for boys and fears of objectification on the part of girls and gender-diverse children. Concerns that it teaches children negative gender stereotypes and aggressive or addictive behavior depend on the type of pornography and the individual consuming it. The report concludes that sex education in schools needs to do a better job of acknowledging the ubiquity of youth exposure to pornography and putting it in perspective.
Pornography Is Not “Inherently Harmful”
