Youth and Porn Resource KitSome young people who view porn may be less likely than others to incorporate the problematic messages in porn into their real-life sexual understandings and experiences, and they are therefore less likely to be negatively impacted by porn.
- Thinking critically about the messages and scripts in porn (68)
- Not perceiving porn to be a realistic template for real-life sex, body type, or gender (71)
- Watching less aggressive porn, delaying first exposure, and minimising usage
- Quality relationship and sexuality education (67)
- Engaging with education and media that reinforce healthy and respectful relationships (61)
- Positive parental awareness, monitoring, and support (62, 63)
- Supportive friendships or positive peer relationships (62)
Note: While recognising protective factors, it is important to be mindful of ‘victim-blaming narratives’, whereby a young person can feel blamed for a harmful porn-related experience. Many protective factors are outside of a young person’s control. For instance: quality sexuality education, or positive parental awareness and support.
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“I think we need education around porn and why it could be damaging or dangerous and other reasons why it might not be…cos there are also positives… there’s positives and negatives to everything…”
Male, 15 years