Effects of Internet Pornography on Society - Research Paper Example

ABSTRACT With the introduction of the World Wide Web, life has become fast and convenient. Sadly, even crime has become fast and convenient as well. Among the many crimes committed over the Internet or because of its influence this paper will be focusing on one of the most disturbing ones, Internet pornography. In November 1998, the U.S. Congress mandated a study by the National Research Council to address pornography on the Internet. (Thornburgh and Lin, 2002) This was done to know the impact on children of being exposed to this kind of sexually explicit material. This paper will explore the effects of Internet pornography on society. It will also discuss whether Internet pornography does lead to abuse of women and the disruption of social relationships such as marriage. Moreover, this paper will attempt to discuss any positive effects Internet pornography may bring to society, if any. With all this information, the paper attempts to aid in the better understanding of Internet pornography and its effects on deviance, crime and various aspects of people’s lives. Introduction As the Internet becomes more developed, the negative influence it brings to society starts getting attention. To distinguish Internet crimes from the usual crimes in society, “cybercrime” was coined. One can only imagine how significant these Internet crimes are in the world we move in to warrant a classification of their own. Hand in hand with the convenience the Internet has given to society are the varied crimes committed in cyber space. By reviewing and discussing related literature, this paper will explore the effects on society of a very alarming cybercrime – Internet Pornography. Statistics show that Internet pornography rakes an income of $4.9 billion and that there are 4.2 million pornographic websites as of today. (Ropelato, n.d.) Based on these numbers, there is little doubt that Internet pornography as we can assume has become a part of many people’s lives. What then are its effects on people, their behavior & their relationship with others? This paper seeks to answer that question by giving the negative, and if possible any positive, outcome this example of cyber crime has brought to the world. Since the Internet was introduced to the world, people’s lives have noticeably changed. Be they young or old, rich or poor, no one has been immune to the ‘charms’ of this advancement in technology. Supposedly, the Internet helps people in accomplishing their activities. It gives convenience & speedy results. It bridges gaps caused by distance and time zones. However, as the cliché goes, some things are just too good to be true. Review of Literature Pornography has been in the world long before Hugh Hefner. Although oriental manuals like Kama Sutra were probably the first evidence of porn pictures, the Greeks already painted the walls of their brothels with such pictures. The word “porn” which means “indecent pictures” or “depiction of whores” came from the Greeks. In earlier times, porn could be seen in statues, paintings and sculptures. Later on, even movies and magazines were becoming braver in making pornographic material available to the public. Famous models and actresses were also being tapped to be in such magazines and/or movies. As more people started to accept porn as part of their lives and as advances in technology made porn easily available to acquire, the porn industry has become a profitable business venture. Up to 500 porn films are made in the USA every year, and the annual turnover of the legal porn business makes up from 4 to 6 billion of dollars. (Gousseva, 2007) Internet pornography or internet porn is an advanced medium of pornography. It generates a big income for business owners and has made pornography as common to Internet users as searching on Google. It has thus become a controversial topic. With the age of Internet users ranging from 6 to 66, concern has grown on the impact of this cyber crime on society. Because women are usually involved, many say the exploitation is distasteful. Because children may be on the websites themselves or watching what is on the site, others say restrictions should be imposed. Because watching Internet porn can be an addiction, still others say it has caused relationships between man and woman to fail. But is Internet pornography really that bad? Is it only a source of disadvantage to society? Published in the Chicago Tribune, an article entitled “Is pornography a catalyst of sexual violence? No.” claims that based on the vast experiment they conducted over the last two decades rape is down 72 percent and other sexual assaults have fallen 68 percent because of Internet pornography. (Chapman, 2007) The article supports the theory that Internet pornography actually has a good effect on people’s behavior. Steven E. Landsburg who wrote the article “How the Web Prevents Rape. All that Internet porn reduces sex crimes. Really.” for Slate online magazine mentions that states which adopted the Internet quickly saw the biggest declines in rape. (Landsburg, 2006) However, even with this information, there is still no evidence that Internet pornography is indeed the primary reason for the decline in rape or sex crimes. On the other hand, some literatures reflect the opposite opinion. At a 2003 meeting of the Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, the majority of lawyers said that Internet porn had played a significant role in divorce. (Post-internet Pornography, 2009) A partner having a more liberated view on sex than his partner discovers someone who shares the same sentiments on these adult Internet sites. These flirtatious conversations eventually develop into something which causes the inhibited partner, who feels betrayed and disgusted, to file for divorce. The Christie Brinkley-Peter Cook and Denise Richards-Charlie Sheen divorces are prime examples. The relation between Internet pornography and marital rape or abuse in marriage is also starting to be discovered by researchers. In one research, a survey of sample women who had been battered found that: a) 75% of the women had been shown pornography & asked or forced to perform similar sex acts; b) 64 % had had pornography described to them & asked or forced to perform similar sex acts; c) 31 % had been asked to participate in pornographic photographs; and d) 81% had reported rape. (Manning, 2008, p. 21) Still other literatures argue that pornography teaches viewers to treat some people as mere objects of lust instead of viewing them as individuals with feelings and unique personalities. (2001) The more exposure to pornography people have, the more likely for them to stereotype those appearing in the media, especially the women. And still others say the Internet age appears to have brought a change to some women’s behaviors regarding pornography. Some have become comfortable enough to watch it themselves, to shrug it off when they learn of their partners’ consumption and to even voluntarily appear on some of these materials. The Internet seems to have made some women accept their sexuality more than they did before. A most disturbing effect of Internet pornography would be that on children. When children are exposed to Internet porn they do not become addicted right away. However, since the Internet is easily available even to a 5-year old and Internet pornography may sometimes be viewed accidentally, everyone should be aware of how the latter can affect the children. Donna Rice Hughes (1998) says exposure to pornography: a) threatens to make children victims of sexual violence; b) frequently results in sexual illnesses, unplanned pregnancies, and sexual addiction; c) may incite children to act out sexually against other children; d) shapes attitudes and values; and e) interferes with a child’s development and identity. An article on Scotland’s sundayherald (Hamill, J., 2009) says internet porn increases the risk of STD as teenagers engage in sex, and most particularly oral sex, at an earlier stage than usual. Teenagers tend to imitate what they watch on screen. It also said that teenagers turn to Internet porn sites as sex education in schools is insufficient. Discussion As mentioned earlier, pornography has existed in the world longer than we think. From paintings in Greek brothels to suppressed kissing in movies to Playboy and now to graphics and live streaming brought about by technology, pornography has evolved together with society and society’s perception of it. As with issues that affect man’s behavior and his dealings with society, people have continued to study and debate over pornography, too. Some approve and support it while some think it is disgraceful and should be banned. This paper’s aim is to understand the repercussions of one kind of pornography on man and society. Based on existing literature, it would seem then that even if Internet pornography may have caused the decline of rape cases in some states, the impact it has on people’s behavior and society in general is still mostly negative. Before the Internet, pornography had been limited to magazines such as Playboy and Maxim; x-rated movies shown in seedy theaters or recorded on VHS tapes; and posters and playing cards to name a few. It was a little difficult to get one’s hands on porn as doing so would be very public, risking one’s reputation and image. With almost everyone having access to the Internet, viewing pornography has become easy, private and affordable. According to writer Ross Douthat, this has also made Internet pornography closer to committing adultery. (Gritz, J, 2008) Although some of today’s wives have accepted this act as a “guy thing”, majority of them still think it is a form of cheating, an addiction, a ground for divorce. The idea of being happily married doesn’t necessarily guarantee the loss of deviant behavior. Internet pornography has provided the sexually dissatisfied partner to find a solution to the problem. And, even if some Internet porn supporters say this way is much safer than having an affair, the affected partner may claim that the act is irresponsible for a parent and distasteful for someone who has vowed to be loyal in heart and mind to the one he/she married. Statistics also show that defiant behavior is demonstrated when partners abuse the other partner by mimicking acts seen on the pornographic material. If the other partner is very conservative in his/her perception of what the sexual act entails, this mimicking might be considered a violation of the partner’s freedom and dignity as a person. Articles on Internet pornography also mention the problem it poses regarding the youth. Websites containing porn are rampant on the Internet. A seemingly harmless link can open up pictures or videos of people having sex or explicitly showing off their private parts. Because the Internet boasts of providing a wealth of information at the click of a mouse, the youth often use it for entertainment & educational purposes. Internet pornography has thus become a cause of alarm for parents whose children are old enough to manipulate a computer and surf on the Net. Studies have shown that teenagers of today are more eager to try out what sex has to offer. Some may say this is but natural. However, since this seemingly harmless curiosity has brought about an increase in early pregnancies, STD and maybe other signs of deviant behavior that are yet to be made public, society has taken an interest on the matter. According to psychologist Shane Krauss, “the internet is having some kind of accelerant effect, influencing and changing behavior. Males are having oral sex and losing their virginity much younger when they are exposed to pornography…” (Hamill, J. 2009) The risk of child abuse is also a product of Internet pornography. It is said that many pedophiles acknowledge that exposure to child sex images fuelled their fantasies and played an important role in leading them to commit physical sexual offences in children. (Internet porn, 2004) The technological ease, lack of expense, and anonymity in obtaining and distributing child pornography has resulted in an explosion in the availability, accessibility and volume of child pornography. (Child Pornography, 2007) Truly, this reality is frightening. Despite some of the negative effects of Internet pornography, supporters have raised a positive side to this cyber crime. It appears that access to this kind of material on the Internet has been a way to satisfy the desires of rapists, in effect, saving countless of potential rape victims. As a writer has implied, maybe the rapists are at home and on the net which is why no one is outside committing rape. Conclusive evidence has yet to be gathered for this claim to be accepted by society, though. One also starts thinking of those involved in the production of porn. This is their source of livelihood. Instead of earning a living getting paid for sex, they receive salaries as an employee. If Internet porn and all other types of porn is banned, then the number of unemployed people will surely increase. Statistics show this industry also generates much income. The amount of revenue it brings can make one think twice about shutting it down. Conclusion and Implications for policy, future research and theory Because Internet pornography has become one of the most popular sources for this kind of adult entertainment, the change it has brought to social relationships, people’s behavior and their values has become a hot topic of endless debates. There are people who think there is a connection between Internet pornography and the decrease of rape. Yet, there are also people who believe that Internet pornography continues to be a negative influence to society and must be stopped. It is interesting to discover that Internet porn might bring a positive effect to deviant behavior & may also aid in decreasing social problems such as unemployment and the crime of rape. On the other hand, because the damage it brings to society transgresses bonds such as loyalty, fidelity, moral values and responsibility – beliefs that are important to majority who makes up society – its negative impact can’t be overshadowed by the good it may bring. Continuous studies must be done to understand the effects of Internet pornography on people’s behavior and to further cement the reality that Internet porn, although helpful, does more damage than harm to society. Defiant behavior is acting outside the norm or what is acceptable to society. A criminal act is a violation of a law or statute. Given all the statistics, Internet pornography can indeed be said to promote defiant behavior and instigate a criminal act. Although there have been numerous surveys and studies done to show why Internet pornography should be stopped, these have failed to serve as eye-openers and to encourage restrictions, limitations or a ban on Internet porn. The spread of adult websites continues as the government fails to implement a solution to this cyber crime. For example, the Child Online Protection Act proposed by Congress to limit the exposure of children to Internet porn has once again been blocked by the U.S. Supreme Court which claims the statute violates the right to free speech. (Mears, 2009) As long as Internet porn causes defiant behavior, continuous research and statistics should be made until those in power actually pause and take a look at what Internet pornography does to man & society and as a result, work to finally put a stop to its negative effects. Further research on existing technology should be done to find a way, if a complete cessation isn’t probable, that protects children from exposure to this media and limits the bad influence Internet porn has on people. So far, the studies done don’t primarily focus on Internet pornography & its effects. A research must be done where Internet pornography, as a controlled variable, is given to and withheld from a group of chosen people. The behavior of those in the study must be observed over a course of time. The results would probably give more conclusive evidences of the effects of Internet pornography. With this knowledge, policies may be made which can possibly help people both prevent the bad effect of Internet porn and yet enjoy the good it can bring to society. Reference (2001). Internet Pornography. h2g2, Retrieved May 27, 2009, from http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A523504 Chapman, S. (2007). Is pornography a catalyst for violence? No. chicagotribune.com. Retrieved on May 24, 2009 from http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2007/nov/ 04/opinion/chi-oped1104chapmannov04 Child Pornography. (2007) Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section. Retrieved on May 31, 2009 from http://www.usdoj.gov/criminal/ceos/childporn.html Gousseva, M. (2007). History of pornography: scandalous beginning and habitual reality. Pravda. Retrieved on May 25, 2009 from http://english.pravda.ru/society/sex/94805-0/ Gritz, J. (2008) Virtual Adultery. theAtlantic. Retrieved on May 31, 2009 from http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200809u/pornography Hamill, J. (2009) Internet porn ‘encourages teenagers to have sex early’. Sundayherald. Retrieved on May 31, 2009 from http://www.sundayherald.com/news/heraldnews/ display.var.2228388.0.internet_porn_encourages_teenagers_to_have_sex_early.php Hughes, D. R. (1998) How Pornography Harms Children. Retrieved on May 29, 2009 from http://www.protectkids.com/effects/harms.htm Internet porn “increasing child abuse”. Guardian.co.uk. Retrieved on May 31, 2009 from http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2004/jan/12/childprotection.childrensservices Landsburg, S. (2006). How the Web Prevents Rape. Slate. Retrieved on May 23, 2009 from http://www.slate.com/id/2152487/ Manning, J. (2008). The Impart of Pornography on Women: Social Science Findings and Clinical Observations. Retrieved on May 28, 2009, from http://www.winst.org/family_marriage_and_democracy/social_costs_of_pornography/Manning%20-%20The%20Impact%20of%20Pornography%20on%20Women.pdf Mears, B. (2009). Justice refuse to reconsider law restricting Internet porn. Cnn.com/technology. Retrieved on June 1, 2009 from http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/01/21/supreme.court.reject/index.html Post-Internet Pornography. (2009) Sex Imagery, Censorship and the Law Part II. Retrieved on May 23, 2009 from http://www.cybercollege.com/sexrsh-2.htm Ropelato, J. (n.d.) Internet Pornography Statistics. TopTenREVIEWS. Retrieved on May 23, 2009 from http://internet-filter-review.toptenreviews.com/ internet-pornography-statistics.html Read More