The Educational Dimension of Pornography: Adolescents’ Use of New Media for Sexual Purposes
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| Year of publication | 2015 |
| Type | Chapter of a book |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
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| Description | In this chapter, we discuss the role of online pornography use in adolescents’ sexual lives, and its effects on young internet users. The review of research indicates that online pornography may have a multifaceted function. While the most common definition of pornography stems from its purposeful intention to increase sexual arousal, there is emerging evidence that adolescents deliberately access these materials online not only for sexual arousal but also for sex education. Furthermore, we show how the line between pleasure and sex self-education can be blurred. Thanks to online pornography use, adolescents may learn what sexually excites them and how they respond to various sexual stimuli. Finally, we argue that online pornography should not be framed by negative discourse suggesting that it is unsuitable for adolescents. The positive value of online pornography use seems to be worth considering when providing the younger generations with sex education. |
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