Do you pay for your p0rn?

How old were you when you discovered p0rnography for the first time?

I was 6.

Nestled away in a magazine holder beside the toilet were numerous p0rn mags hidden by my uncle. I would sneak them back to my bedroom flicking through the pages with my head over the covers confused, yet intrigued. I then discovered internet porn when I was 12. Sat at the family computer, I typed in Red Tube to find out what all the fuss was about. And there it was, hundreds of thousands of videos available at the click of a finger, all for free. But this new world was short-lived as my grandma caught me moments later.

But isn't it interesting, we have access to this video library and we assume it's ours for the taking? Why wouldn't we? It's free, right? And isn't that the point of a p0rn star? Our sexual satisfaction and enjoyment?

I could take this down the road of "porn is bad" and how p0rnography is said to have harmful effects on users, such as desensitisation, dehumanisation, and the encouragement of abuse. But instead, I want to talk about ethics.

I don't know when it happened or why but after I first discovered porn all those years ago and eventually gained private access to the internet, I became extremely fascinated by p0rn stars. Their work lives, their personal lives, and their morals. And just like many things in this world, the industry isn't what it used to be. I became hooked on the lives of some of the greats - Jenna Jameson, Ginger Lynn, Richard Peter Johnson, and Christy Mack.

It was Jenna Jameson's book "How to Make Love Like a P0rn Star" that sent me down the rabbit hole of what really goes on behind the scenes of the p0rn industry.

But it's not the production companies that are unethical but the free websites in which porn is being consumed. P0rnHub is one of the most visited sites in the world with an average of 30 billion users yearly. But the question we should be asking is, how are they making their money? With the perfect blend of racism, patriarchy, and capitalism, this platform is making money off of leaked under 18 revenge porn, and racist and sexist content all to please its audience. With 14 class action lawsuits against p0rnHub, credit card companies such as MasterCard and Visa have cut ties after their refusal to take down videos depicting rape and child abuse. P0rnHub has also been banned from Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube, and Instagram due to multiple violations.

This isn't me telling you to stop watching p0rn but to be mindful of the content you're consuming. You may just be 1 person, but you're 1 of millions.

What is ethical p0rn?

Ethical p0rn can be defined as content that is made legally, respects the rights of performers, has good working conditions, shows both fantasy and real-world sex, and celebrates sexual diversity.

It's no secret that p0rn has the power to rewire our brains, releasing a hit of dopamine and throwing us into a fantasy of unthinkable acts outside of that moment of ecstasy. This is why more p0rn companies are creating realistic, ethical p0rn reflecting the real lives of real humans. One company, in particular, I stumbled across, "Make Love Not P0rn", was founded by 63-year-old Cindy Gallop. She is paving the way for ethical p0rn and says she receives endless messages from men thanking her for showing them what real sex looks like.

Another ethical p0rn source is OnlyFans (no, this is not me announcing my OF). With women taking full control and ownership over their content.

There is no shame in watching p0rn, but there is shame in consuming content that glorifies child trafficking and rape culture. Be mindful next time you reach for your tissues and lotion.

(I apologise for the annoying use of zeros in replacement of 'o' but Patreon ironically flagged my content)