The Dishonesty of Labeling Porn a ‘Public Health Crisis’

Is pornography a “public health crisis”? Claims to that effect, recently led by Todd Weiler, a Republican state Senator in Utah, have created a lot of chatter. As a certified sex addiction therapist and certified sex therapist, I find such broad claims frustrating. With every bold, unsubstantiated claim about sex and porn, sex therapists’ jobs get more difficult. The line where pornography is problematic becomes increasingly blurry, parents become more confused about what to do to help their children understand sex, and more people access therapy due to shame surrounding behavior that in many cases isn’t problematic.

Many people do contend with a legitimate pornography issue. Some use it compulsively, while others have relationship problems because of it. Others avoid their partners in favor of porn. These breakdowns in romantic relationships and out-of-control behaviors require special skill, empathy, and education to address, not rhetoric.

Even though there are many people who want or need help for pornography use, the reason for calling pornography a “crisis” is unclear. Weiler’s declaration is attention grabbing, but it also makes a common mistake. He mixes up issues relating to childhood curiosity about sex, pornography addiction, and adult pornography use. This mistake is dangerous because these claims are based on speculation, whereas real knowledge about sexual education can only come from researched evidence. Combining concerns of education, sexual fantasy, and the breakdown of family connections leads to arguments based in ignorance.

Although there are many critics of Weiler’s claims, there are supporters as well. Critics and supporters alike may take extreme perspectives without doing the research needed to figure out how to best educate children about sex, help those who are addicted to porn, and understand how people connect with sex.

Pornography as Sex Education

Pornography may be more accessible to children and adolescents with the Internet, but we really don’t know the long-term consequences of this. This doesn’t mean children should watch porn, of course, but using words like “exposed” when talking about their interactions with it make it sound like irreversible, lasting effects are inevitable, which is simply unproven. It is also unclear what leads children and teens to watch porn; educated assumptions among some sexual health professionals indicate it’s curiosity and the pursuit of sexual education. Many sex education programs are lacking when it comes to concrete information about sexual pleasure and sex outside of reproduction.

We all are concerned about children being safe online and their exposure to pornography. Yet, it is critical to resist taking sides based on oversimplified political messages.To gain a better understanding of child and adolescent pornography use, it might be best to go to the source. It’s time to ask young people what they are looking for, rather than pontificating about right and wrong. Let’s put our trust in them to help us understand what it’s like to be a young, developing, sexual person in the Internet age, because we clearly don’t get it. Children and teens are sexual beings, developing and growing, while also trying to understand what even many adults struggle to understand about sex.

In our sexual education programs, there is a need to teach children about the difference between what is portrayed in pornography and real sex. Rather than treating porn use as an epidemic, we need to leave doors open for non-shaming discussion, dialogue, and information exchange.

Porn as an Addiction

Mind-numbing, distancing, and dissociating are the clinical features I notice most in those I work with who compulsively use porn. However, there are also people who come in with what they think is a pornography addiction, even though they use porn infrequently.

This underscores why it is a problem when high-profile people make bold, anti-porn claims based on assumption and speculation. There is a need for ongoing research to help us understand the negative and potentially positive roles of porn. Labeling it a “health crisis” makes it difficult to know who needs help and who doesn’t. This cloudiness increases the chances of shaming people who don’t have a problem, which can create further issues with a sexually positive identity. It also cuts into the credibility of the existence of pornography addiction, which makes it more difficult to help those who struggle with compulsive use.

Lawmakers Are Not Sex Experts

We all are concerned about children being safe online and their exposure to pornography. Yet, it is critical to resist taking sides based on oversimplified political messages. This is why lawmakers and politicians, whose motives aren’t always pure and whose interests are often complicated, shouldn’t be attempting to educate or regulate the general population about sex and porn. As with other complicated social and mental health issues, lawmakers need to consult with actual experts. Discussing issues with sex therapists and addiction experts would help promote research. These efforts can help create education plans, bring professionals together, and help build relationships that serve us all.

References:

1. Siemaszko, C. (2016, Feb. 9). Utah state Sen. Todd Weiler: Porn is a public health crisis. NBC News. Retrieved from http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/utah-state-sen-todd-weiler-porn-public-health-crisis-n514626
2. Sifferlin, A. (2015). Why schools can’t teach sex ed. Retrieved from http://time.com/why-schools-cant-teach-sex-ed/

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