The recent review by Conservative peer Gabby Bertin calling for a ban on violent and degrading pornography has sparked a necessary conversation about the impact of free online porn on our society. As someone who was exposed to explicit and violent content at a young age, I can attest to the damaging effects it can have on one’s perception of sex and relationships.
The statistics are alarming: the average age of first exposure to porn is 13, and most children access it through free “Tube” websites that host unmoderated and often violent content. This has led to a culture where choking and other forms of violence are normalized and even fetishized.
But the problem goes beyond the content itself; it’s about how it shapes our attitudes towards sex and relationships. The ubiquity of free porn has created a culture where women are degraded and violence is normalized. It’s a culture that perpetuates the idea that women are objects for male pleasure, rather than equals in a consensual relationship.
So, what’s the solution? Banning porn altogether is not the answer, as it would only drive the industry underground and lead to even more unregulated and dangerous content. Instead, we should consider banning free porn or finding ways to moderate it.
Paying for porn legitimizes the industry and gives it a set of standards to abide by. Many adult filmmakers, such as Erika Lust, have already had success in producing sex-positive, consent-driven content that champions female pleasure.
It’s time for us to take responsibility for the content we consume and the impact it has on our society. Paying for porn may seem like a small price to pay, but it’s a crucial step towards creating a culture that values consent, respect, and equality.
