What We Know About Pornography and Adolescents

The vast majority of tweens and teens in the U.S. have smartphones, tablets, and computers that provide them with unmonitored access to the internet. This unfettered access to technology offers all sorts of pros and cons—access to tutoring and school assignments, exposure to online bullying, and the ability to make social connections with people who have shared interests, among others.

Studies show that the increased access to technology also provides adolescents with unprecedented access to pornography, some of which can be hard-core, explicit, and often violent—a far cry from the material available in previous years.

In a 2022 report by Common Sense Media, a nonprofit that rates and reviews media and technology for children, 71 percent of teenagers reported intentionally viewing pornography in the past week; more than half reported seeing pornography that included rape, choking, or someone in pain.

On average, participants see pornography for the first time at age 12, with 15 percent seeing it for the first time at age 10 or younger. And 45 percent of participants felt pornography provided them with helpful information about sex.

Researchers across the globe are trying to better understand how earlier exposure to online pornography is affecting youth today.

It’s important to note that it is not ethically possible to conduct randomized, controlled studies on teen pornography use, so there is no way to rule out confounding factors that may influence study results.

Nevertheless, systematic reviews have found that young people who watch pornography are more likely to have strong gender-stereotypical beliefs about sex, more likely to have sexual intercourse, and more likely to have casual sex. In addition, teens who reported accessing sexually explicit websites were more likely to have more sexual partners, participate in a broader array of sexual activities, and use alcohol or drugs in their sexual experiences.

Further research has determined that pornography can be addictive; watching pornography releases a surplus of dopamine in the brain that leads your body to crave even more dopamine, creating a cycle of addiction.

A study of young adults also determined that pornography affects sexual function. It found the use of passion and romance pornography was associated with higher sexual satisfaction among young adults, while the use of power, control, and rough sex pornography was associated with lower sexual satisfaction. In addition, when cisgender men viewed power, control, and rough sex pornography, they reported lower sexual function.

“While self-exploration is a normal part of development, research indicates that frequent exposure to pornography, particularly content involving aggression, can shape unrealistic expectations and potentially impact the development of healthy intimate relationships,” explained Janis Whitlock, psychologist and emerita research scientist of the Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research whose work focused on young adult mental health.

“Young people benefit from understanding that meaningful physical and emotional intimacy develops through trust, communication, and mutual respect and exchange,” she said.

All of this leads to the conclusion that viewing pornography—especially violent videos—is unhealthy for adolescents. But what can we do about it? Public health researchers suggest that primary care physicians are well-equipped to talk with adolescent patients about pornography use and its long-term effects.

In addition, researchers suggest it’s important for parents to have open, factual conversations about pornography. The most important message is that pornography is not real; the people in pornography videos are actors following a script. For more advice, the Child Mind Institute—a nonprofit dedicated to youth mental health—offers evidence-based tips on how to talk to teenagers about porn.

The take-home message: Adolescents have unprecedented access to pornography, which is having an impact on their sexual behaviors and attitudes. Talking with young people about pornography is an important step in protecting them from some of the negative effects.