Impact of Pornography on Society
This Library Note has been prepared in advance of the debate in the House of Lords on 5 November 2015 on the impact of pornography on society. This Note provides information on the definition of pornography and the current law on pornography. It also gives reference to recent evidence and a selection of key issues that have been raised in relation to the impact of pornography on both children and adults.
Definition and Current Law
There is no statutory definition of ‘pornography’ in UK legislation. The term ‘pornography’ is a contested concept and is currently interpreted differently by individuals and organisations.
The publication of obscene material is illegal under the Obscene Publications Act 1959, as amended. The coalition Government made a number of changes in the law surrounding the issue of pornography—these included extending “extreme acts”, which are illegal, to include the depiction of rape.
Impact
However, there is concern regarding the impact that pornography is having on society, both on children and adults, in particular due to an increase in its availability and accessibility via the internet. With reports that 1 in 5 children aged 12–13 think that watching porn is normal behaviour and that nearly 1 in 10 children aged 12–13 are worried they might be addicted to porn, questions are being asked with regard to how best to effectively protect and educate children.
There are no official statistics collected regarding the number of individuals accessing pornography in the UK or what proportion of pornography users are male and female. Recent surveys and studies suggest, however, that women’s use of pornography has been underreported. Although research into pornography’s impact on society is limited, numerous organisations and individuals are suggesting negative links, including in relation to: attitudes towards women, low self-esteem, and addiction.