Is porn bad for you?

[Sky H]

I used it a couple of times and it felt good, but idk if it's bad for me. I've also heard that people get addicted to it sometimes, and I'm scared that that will happen to me.

So is it bad for you and if not, how to watch it without getting addicted?

[Siân]

Hi Sky H,

Porn isn't inherently evil or bad for you but there are a couple of things worth remembering when you're watching it:

Porn sex is not like real-life sex and so it's not a great place to learn about what your own sex life can or should be like. These two articles by Alice O look at some of the unrealistic things you might see in porn:
Bare Bodies: Reality Checking Mainstream Porn
Sex on Screen: Reality Checking Mainstream Porn

Porn isn't your only sexual outlet. We don't tend to talk about porn being addictive but over time it is possible to get so used to watching it that it's harder to notice the other things you find sexy. Like with anything, it's best to use it in moderation and also spend time fantasising in your own mind or exploring masturbation without porn.

Not all porn is made equal. Like anything else we consume, from t-shirts to trinkets, there is a huge variety in how ethically made (or not) porn is. There are plenty of shady practices and bad working conditions in the porn industry, so if the wellbeing of the people (because they are real people, even if the sex they're having isn't realistic) on screen is important to you it's worth thinking about who made your porn and how. This usually means paying for your porn, which can be tricky for younger folks!

This article goes into more detail about figuring out how you feel about porn:
Making sense of sexual media

Does that answer your question?

[Sky H]

Hi Sky H,

Porn isn't inherently evil or bad for you but there are a couple of things worth remembering when you're watching it:

Porn sex is not like real-life sex and so it's not a great place to learn about what your own sex life can or should be like. These two articles by Alice O look at some of the unrealistic things you might see in porn:
Bare Bodies: Reality Checking Mainstream Porn
Sex on Screen: Reality Checking Mainstream Porn

Porn isn't your only sexual outlet. We don't tend to talk about porn being addictive but over time it is possible to get so used to watching it that it's harder to notice the other things you find sexy. Like with anything, it's best to use it in moderation and also spend time fantasising in your own mind or exploring masturbation without porn.

Not all porn is made equal. Like anything else we consume, from t-shirts to trinkets, there is a huge variety in how ethically made (or not) porn is. There are plenty of shady practices and bad working conditions in the porn industry, so if the wellbeing of the people (because they are real people, even if the sex they're having isn't realistic) on screen is important to you it's worth thinking about who made your porn and how. This usually means paying for your porn, which can be tricky for younger folks!

This article goes into more detail about figuring out how you feel about porn:
Making sense of sexual media

Does that answer your question?

It anwsers my question. Thank you.