Most casual porn viewers believe in the benefits of watching porn. Professionals also maintain that moderate porn watching can help with stress relief and mood regulation.
But how accurate is this assumption? What is the purpose of porn, and is porn beneficial?
These questions have become more relevant than ever, considering the nature of online pornography. We are coming across research that points to the addictive potential of porn and how its risks outweigh the benefits of watching porn.
Let’s have a closer look at what type of porn can be beneficial and what the risks and benefits of watching porn are.
What Is Porn?
Porn refers to any sexually suggestive material, such as images, video, or text, that is intended to arouse the viewer sexually. The word pornography originated from the Greek and was used to refer to works depicting the lives of prostitutes. Throughout history and across cultures, porn has existed in various forms.
The Internet drove a global explosion of pornography by making it accessible and affordable. The smartphones played a key role in normalizing porn as a mainstream form of entertainment. So, digital access has fundamentally altered how porn is accessed and consumed.
Today, porn exists in a spectrum ranging from mainstream to content that is considered obscene and illegal. Porn in itself is not considered inherently beneficial or harmful. However, the ubiquitous access and nature of content in digital porn raise serious questions about the benefits of watching porn.
Is Porn Beneficial?
Are there any advantages of watching pornography? Is porn beneficial?
Porn can be beneficial if it is used as a tool to explore sexuality and for sexual pleasure in a healthy way. Ethical and consensual porn is considered beneficial.
Professor Alan McKee is a scholar in sexualized media, porn and its effects on the youth. His research identifies six criteria that help the young adults to critically assess the content instead of passively internalizing the unhealthy messages of porn.
You can get the advantages and benefits of watching porn if the pornographic content follows these six criteria –
| Criteria | Details |
|---|---|
| Variety of sexual Practices | Include a range of sexual acts and bodies including non-intercourse, kinks, and issues such as erectile dysfunction. |
| Variety of body types, genders, and races | Diversity of size, shape, age (within legal limits), race, abilities, gender identity that go beyond stereotypical beauty norms. |
| Negotiation of consent onscreen | The sexual interaction should depict clear and continued consent including verbal affirmations, non-verbal cues, and negotiation of boundaries. |
| Ethical production | The performers should be treated fairly, given safe working conditions, paid properly, and should give both on and off camera consent. |
| Focus on pleasure of all participants | Depiction of mutual pleasure and interest of all the participants and not only on the visual spectacle of the sexual acts. |
| Depiction of safe sex | Normalizing safe sex by showing or indicating the use of protection such as condoms or testing. |
11 Benefits of Watching Porn
The debate over the positive effects of watching pornography and the benefits of watching porn is an evolving one. As the nature of porn and its consumption are undergoing rapid changes due to the internet and AI, the negative and positive effects of porn are also evolving.
The outcome of porn consumption in terms of harm or benefits of watching porn is nuanced and individualistic. Here is a look at 11 benefits of watching pornography that are frequently cited –
- Stress and Boredom Relief – In moderation, watching porn can help in stress relief, distraction, and mood regulation.
- Sexual Exploration and Knowledge – Porn can introduce viewers to a wide range of sexual scenarios, positions, and kinks.
- Increased Sexual Drive and Performance – Moderate porn watching can improve sexual desire, boost libido, and help to achieve orgasm.
- Self-Acceptance for Sexual Minorities – For LGBTQ+ communities, porn can help to explore their sexual identities and normalize their desires.
- Increased Body Acceptance – Exposure to diverse body types can improve sexual satisfaction and self-esteem.
- Improvements to Mental Health – Mood regulation, decreased anxiety, and depression are among the benefits of watching porn.
- Improved Communication – Improvement in communication about sexual desires and boundaries can be one of the benefits of watching porn together for couples.
- Shared Sexual Experience – Higher relationship and sexual satisfaction is one of the benefits of watching porn together for couples.
- Destigmatization and Empowerment – One of the key benefits of watching porn is that it helps to normalize sexual desires and validates different sexual expressions.
- Encourages Safe Sex Practices – Porn featuring condom use of safe sex behaviors influences viewers to adopt safe sex practices.
- Expanded Sexual Creativity – Porn can expose the viewers to a wide variety of sexual genres and spark new ideas of intimacy.
Side Effects of Watching Porn Online
There are positive effects of watching pornography and many people use porn to gain these benefits. However, for some people, especially youngsters and individuals with mental health issues, porn can have harmful side effects –
- Risks of Problematic Use – Porn can rewire the brain’s dopamine reward system and result in addiction-like cravings and compulsive behavior. Compulsive porn use can disrupt work, academic performance, and social life.
- Mental Health Impacts – Compulsive porn use is linked to higher levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. Heavy porn users also report lower self-esteem and mental distress.
- Unrealistic Expectations – Pornography depicts a fantasy version of sex with an unrealistic image of beauty. Such unrealistic standards result in self-criticism, insecurity, and lower satisfaction in partnered sex.
- Impact on Relationships – Secretive porn habits can affect the trust and emotional intimacy between partners. People often experience jealousy, insecurity, and dissatisfaction with their partner’s body as a result of their porn habits.
- Risky Behaviors – Heavy porn use might encourage experimentation with unsafe sex and dangerous/illegal activities depicted on screen. Especially for younger audiences, early exposure to porn increases the probability of risky sexual behavior.
5 Ways to Quit Porn Addiction
As you can see, the harmful effects of porn outweigh the advantages of watching pornography. If you are struggling with a compulsive porn habit, here are 5 practical strategies that will help you quit porn –
1. Recognize Triggers and Set Boundaries
A cue triggers the urge to watch porn. It could be an emotion (stress or boredom) or a pattern of behavior. Identify what triggers you personally and plan for an alternative activity (exercise, journaling, hobbies, etc.) Stop using your phone and laptop in privacy so that abstaining from porn becomes easier.
2. Blocking Tools and Filters
Installing a porn-blocker, such as BlockP, acts as a barrier to accessing porn. Having a digital filter gives you a pause when you are struggling with porn cravings. This pause buys you time to reconsider your actions and redirect yourself from porn. A porn-blocker prevents relapses by making slip-ups less automatic.
3. Healthy Lifestyle Habits and Hobbies
For long-time porn addiction recovery, you should replace porn with positive routines. Lifestyle changes such as eating nutritious food, exercising, and getting quality sleep improve your emotional regulation. Social interactions and hobbies provide emotional fulfillment that reduces the dependency on pornography for mood regulation.
4. Support System and Accountability
The shame and social stigma of porn can keep you trapped in isolation. Break the isolation of porn by joining support communities such as Sex Addicts Anonymous or online support communities to connect with mentors and peers. Having an accountability partner can also keep you motivated and disciplined during recovery.
5. Professional Help
Don’t hesitate to get support from a therapist or a counselor if the process of quitting porn is too overwhelming for you. Therapies such as Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) are also useful for overcoming behavioral addictions. A specialist might also prescribe medications for managing underlying issues, such as depression or anxiety, that are driving your porn habit.
How can BlockP help you?
BlockP is the best adult content blocker trusted by millions of users who are trying to quit porn. It is an all-in-one porn blocker for keeping you safe online across your devices. Here is how BlockP helps you quit porn –
- Network-level filters – BlockP uses network-level AI filters to detect and block all explicit content and nudity in real-time.
- Block pornography – BlockP instantly blocks millions of adult websites. You can add more websites to this blocklist for extra protection.
- Custom blocking – You can set up custom keyword filtering for specific content that is personally triggering for you.
- Prevent accidental exposure – BlockP ensures complete porn blocking on social media, Apps, and websites to prevent accidental exposure and relapse.
- Accountability – You can add a trusted friend or your partner as an accountability partner. They will be entrusted with the password to prevent uninstall of the App.
- Unblock prevention – It prevents access to pornography in incognito mode. If you try to unblock adult content, your accountability partner will get an instant notification.
- Emotional regulation – The meditation prompts, focus mode, and motivational quotes of the App help you manage the cravings and stay disciplined.
- Community support – The online support community of BlockP helps you connect with others who are trying to overcome porn addiction.
