London, March 24, 2025 – The rising concerns over the impact of violent and unmoderated pornography on young minds have reignited debates on whether stricter regulations should be imposed on the industry. With studies revealing that the average age of first-time porn exposure is just 13, experts argue that unrestricted access to extreme content is normalizing violent sexual behaviors and distorting perceptions of intimacy.
Unfiltered Content and Its Lasting Impact
A recent government review led by Conservative peer Gabby Bertin has called for a ban on pornographic content depicting strangulation and other violent sexual acts. Bertin emphasized that “legal but harmful pornography” is having a detrimental impact on children and society at large.
The ease of access to free pornographic content, especially on unregulated “Tube” websites, has been a growing concern. These platforms, which host thousands of explicit videos without any moderation, often feature extreme and degrading acts, including choking, non-consensual aggression, and even content bordering on abuse.
The “Pornification” of Sex: A New Reality
One of the biggest issues with mainstream pornography is how it has influenced real-world sexual experiences. A 2019 BBC Five Live survey found that nearly 40% of women aged 18-39 had experienced choking during sex. Many of them reported that their partners never asked for consent—they simply assumed it was expected.
Sexual behavior today is often shaped by what people see in pornography, leading to situations where:
Women feel pressured to accept acts of violence as part of intimacy.
Men assume aggression is normal and expected in sexual encounters.
Consent becomes an afterthought, rather than a priority.
The Case for Moderation: Is Free Porn the Real Problem?
While banning porn altogether isn’t a realistic solution, experts believe that banning free, unregulated porn could be a step toward mitigating these issues. Unlike the mainstream sites that profit from extreme and unverified content, paid pornography has industry standards, ethical guidelines, and content moderation.
Pioneers like Swedish filmmaker Erika Lust have successfully introduced “feminist porn”, which prioritizes consent, respect, and female pleasure. However, unlike most content found on free sites, this type of ethically produced adult content comes at a cost.
The Price of Ethical Porn: A Small Sacrifice for a Safer Future
Introducing a paywall for adult content would not completely eliminate violent porn, but it would significantly reduce its accessibility. By enforcing stricter regulations and ensuring that content follows ethical guidelines, the degradation of women and normalization of violence in sexual culture could be curtailed.
As conversations around the harmful effects of unregulated porn continue to grow, policymakers and society must decide whether the widespread availability of extreme content is worth the long-term damage it causes. Perhaps, as experts argue, it’s time to ask: Should we all be paying for porn?
