Content Warning: This article mentions human trafficking, sexual abuse and sexual exploitation.

The consumption of sex has become normalized in our society today. Sexual visuals and references are now more prevalent in all media we consume, such as in television shows and the music we listen to. This has led to a worldwide epidemic of another more daunting issue: the normalization of the consumption of pornography. The pornography industry generates up to $97 billion a year, which is more than the combined incomes of ABC, NBC and CBS. There are a host of issues with consuming pornographic materials, including stimulating human trafficking and creating unrealistic standards for sex. 

One major issue of the pornography industry is its connection to human trafficking. Sex trafficking is the largest growing illegal business, and the pornography industry is part of the reason for this. 80 percent of trafficking victims who were freed say that they were forced to watch pornography so that they could “learn” what was expected from them. In a 2010 research study covered in UNBOUNDNOW analyzing 50 pornographic videos, researchers found that 88 percent portrayed physical violence and 49 percent portrayed verbal violence. Not only is it highly problematic for consumers to think that this is normal in sexual activity, but it also further harms those who are being trafficked. The more people consume it, the more captors force their victims to perform in such ways. Furthermore, captors of victims use pornographic sites to advertise their victims to potential “clients.” They force their victims to film pornography so that they can show what they are illegally selling. Pornography sites make money off of repeated clicks to their videos, so they are constantly profiting off of the illegal sexual exploitation of others. 

Sites, such as Pornhub, have been known to profit off of sexual exploitation. Pornhub has videos where rape, sexual abuse and child trafficking are apparent. The pornography industry is a leading cause of child trafficking. A disturbing part about the pornography industry is that child pornography is more profitable; therefore, children are highly exploited. Captors prey on children who they think will be easy to exploit, such as those with rough home lives. Of children who are forced into trafficking and pornography, 86 percent of them come from foster homes or social services. Milad Shojaei of “Human Rights Pulse,” reports that the global human trafficking business has exploited more than two million children worldwide. 

The consumption of pornography also creates an unhealthy and unrealistic view of sex and sexual activities. A study by the University of New Hampshire revealed that 93 percent of men and 67 percent of women have been reported to be exposed to “hard-core” pornographic material during adolescence. The thing about pornography is that it is fake. Angles, lighting and editing are key factors that create a porno. Pornography is not real. However, pornography sites market to us that it is real. The pornography industry also heavily utilizes cosmetic surgery, even going as far as to change the look of female actors’ labia. This creates unrealistic standards and expectations of a partner’s appearance during intimacy. Because of these standards, pornography has also led to eating disorders in consumers as they want to achieve this “perfect,” “sexy” or “desirable” look.  Pornography can also reduce one’s attraction to their partner sexually, as they are used to consuming impractical ideals of sex. The sex shown in pornography is unreasonable, and pornography actors are actors. Real-life sex isn’t going to look like a pornographic video, yet when pornography is consumed through adolescence, it becomes the expectation. 

Pornography is an act. It is created to bring in revenue. Pornography is not real and is harmful to many of the parties involved. The pornography industry preys on victims and children and creates insecurities. Pornography is a multi-billion dollar industry that feeds off the exploration of victims. According to “Lifeplan,” more people view pornography on the internet every month than Netflix, Amazon and Twitter combined. Pornography is an epidemic, and we need more education and more conversation on how harmful it is for everyone involved.