What is porn?
Porn is everywhere. On film, magazines, internet and social media. It often shows pictures or videos of people performing sexual acts or having sex on camera. Porn must mainly be made legally, and is often recorded by porn actors. These are over 18 years of age, and are paid if they have consented to the filming and sharing of the film. Separate websites have also been created online for porn. One of the most famous is Pornhub. Porn should be something that people like to watch, and that many people, for example, masturbate to. According to a survey carried out by the Norwegian Media Authority, more than half of children and young people between the ages of 13 and 18 have seen porn. 55% of those between 13-18 saw porn online for the first time before they turned 13. ( The Norwegian Media Authority Children and media 2022: Porn ).
There are separate websites that are so-called "ethical porn". These are websites you should rather visit, instead of websites like Pornhub. You will find tips and links further down in this post.
What is the difference between porn and real sex?
It can be difficult for children and young people in particular to understand the difference between sex in real life and porn. Much of the porn online can be scary, violent, racist and can be disgusting to look at. It can also give children and young people the wrong impression of what sex between people should be like. Few porn videos show the importance of consent, setting boundaries and using protection. Websites like Pornhub also do not verify whether the videos that are uploaded are posted with consent or not. Therefore, much of the abuse material by adults and children also ends up there. There are plenty of horror examples of this, and Pornhub has gotten into trouble before. Read more HERE .
It is important to remember that what you see online is not like reality! Make sure that your partner really wants it, that you are comfortable, that you protect yourself and that they do not harm yourself or your partner, either physically or emotionally.
How to distinguish between online porn and images/videos spread without consent?
It can be difficult to distinguish between legal and illegal pornography. There are also so-called amateur videos, which are made with consent but which do not look as "professional" as the big famous films and actors.
One tip is to look at the quality. Legal porn usually has much better picture and video quality. Video will often not jerk and the camera will remain "at rest". If you are unsure, then it is a good rule not to spread the video or image further.
Which websites are better to watch pornography on? Ethical porn?
Since many websites like Xvideo and Pornhub do not verify their videos, you have to make proven choices about where to put your money or click. Even if you don't pay on Pornhub, they make money from you watching videos there.
Ethical porn is films and images that are shared with consent, and many of these films have clips where the actors talk about what they are going to do before the action starts, and confirm that they agree to what is going to happen. It is also important that those who appear in the film are over 18, are properly paid and have not been exploited in the process. Some studios have made their contracts public, or are clear that they value their actors. Ethical porn also shows sex a little more like in reality. It does not show as much violence, and in some cases also shows condom use and communication.
Ethical porn also focuses on diversity, without being called things without consent or being objectified. The actors have control over how they will be referred to.
Here is a list of websites that offer ethical porn
- https://lustcinema.com/
- https://makelovenotporn.tv/
- https://spit.exposed/
- https://xconfessions.com/
- https://www.bellesa.co/
- Onlyfans
How can parents and teachers talk about porn?
Many parents get angry or punish children and young people for looking up porn. Perhaps this is just a sign of curiosity and a search for more information? Parents need to have the sex talk with their children much earlier, so that they learn about sex and porn directly from parents instead of websites like Pornhub.
Below you will find resources for parents:
- BOOK: Porn talk - How to have the important conversation with children and young people
- https://lightup-movement.no/ressursbanken
- Barnevakten.no
- The police - Divisible?
- UngPåNett
Porn on the timetable - Resources for teachers
Many teachers state that it is demanding to talk to children and young people about sex and porn, and are looking for more tools to do this. Porn on the schedule has been developed by Barnevakten and the youth organization Lightup Norway and aims to contribute to good sexual health among young people and put the topic of pornography into a larger social context. You can find the guide HERE .
Here you will also find other resources:
- https://lightup-movement.no/ressursbanken
- Barnevakten.no
- The police - Divisible?
- UngPånett