Thanks to the internet, porn is everywhere. And so are arguments that it is unhealthy, harmful and ultimately bad for us.

When porn makes up a third of all internet traffic, it’s no surprise that research shows that most people have seen it at least once. But these people want to know if watching adult content is bad for you. 

So what do we believe? Are we all subjecting ourselves to a life of addiction? Or is it a lack of sex education and scaremongering? We’re unpacking some of the most common beliefs about the adult industry.

Common belief: Watching porn is bad for you  

Reality: Research shows no evidence that porn use leads to significant hikes in risky, addictive, unhealthy or compulsive behaviors. In fact, there are a lot of benefits to watching porn. It can rekindle your sex life, help you discover and share kinks or fantasies with trusted partners, and even reduce stress. 

Research has shown that when women view porn, they report increased sex drive for a partner and for experiencing sexual pleasure. Another study shows that when couples watch together they report a more satisfying sex life. 

Common belief: Porn is addictive

Reality: Porn addiction is not recognized as an addiction by the American Psychological Association. Plus, the DSM-5—the world’s authoritative manual of mental disorders—states that porn addiction is not a psychological disorder. 

Some experts believe that mental health concerns may be more related to the stigma of watching porn, rather than the content itself.  Neuroscientist Nicole Prause, PhD, tells Insider, that what people refer to as porn addiction is actually a conflict of values that leads you to think you’re addicted. 

Common belief: Women are frequently exploited and trafficked

Reality: Legal porn is not the same as image-based sexual abuse, and sex work is not the same thing as trafficking. Conflating sex work (including porn) with abuse hurts sex workers and other people in the adult industry, many of whom are women.

Legal adult sites filter for legal content and require supporting consent documents. Platforms are also getting better at responding to takedown notices.

Common belief: Aggressive scenes lead to violence

Reality: There’s little evidence that watching porn leads to sexual violence. One review of more than 80 studies concluded a causal link between porn use and violence is unlikely, and any findings proving a connection are often distorted by the media and lawmakers.

Common belief: Porn promotes body image issues

Reality: Mainstream porn often features women who look one type of way and that image doesn’t represent all women. Ethical porn often portrays a diversity of bodies, real sex, and drop dead sexy aesthetics. If you’re looking for body-positive adult movies where legit female pleasure is the center point, it does exist.

Common belief: Racism and fetishization are prevalent in porn

Reality: It’s true – racism and fetishization are prevalent in many genres of erotica. That’s why it’s important to recognize racist and fetishist tropes, reject them, and intentionally consume porn created by and with BIPOC performers. The whole adult industry must stop using racist stereotypes and give marginalized performers roles that are safe, empowering, and sexy.

Common belief: Porn is created for the male gaze 

Reality: Some porn is created with the male gaze in mind. But ethical producers, many of whom are women, are making it a point to highlight real sexual pleasure on the big screen, male gaze be damned (though, to be fair, men love it).

Common belief: Porn lacks consent and negotiation

Reality: A lot of on-set consent and negotiations take place between performers well before cameras start rolling. But those dialogues about what types of sex feel safe, consensual, and good aren’t often displayed on the big screen. Think discussing boundaries and sex acts, asking for lube, and taking breaks to clean up. Ethical porn producers take extra steps in making sure everybody on set feels safe and comfortable.

Want to know more? Read our Guide to Ethical Porn.

60% of women are dissatisfied with their sex lives. We’re on a mission to change that.

What if you didn’t have to search to find a body that looks like yours, a sex act that turns you on, or a guided exercise that helps you tell your partner exactly what you’ve been craving?

What if YOUR pleasure came first?

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