Study uncovers narrowing gender divide in pornography use and attitudes among teens

A new study published in The Journal of Sex Research indicates that Swedish adolescents are using pornography more frequently, with notable shifts in their attitudes. Between 2004 and 2020–21, both boys and girls have become more tolerant of pornography, yet increasingly skeptical of its supposed benefits. Interestingly, the once prominent gender gap in reactions to pornography has narrowed considerably, with boys and girls now reporting similar emotional and behavioral responses.

Past studies have shown that pornography can shape young people’s understanding of sex, relationships, and gender roles. However, these studies primarily focused on a time when pornography was less accessible, and societal views were different. This study aimed to explore how attitudes toward pornography have changed in light of its increased availability, especially among adolescents who have grown up with smartphones and easy access to free online content.

“Pornography has changed drastically in the past decades, and we knew little about how adolescent responses and attitudes toward pornography have shifted over time. Our data presented a unique opportunity to address this gap,” said study author Meghan Donevan, a PhD student in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Umeå University.

The researchers analyzed data from two nationally representative surveys of Swedish high school seniors in 2004 and 2020–21. Both surveys included identical questions about pornography use, attitudes, and responses, which allowed the researchers to directly compare data across these two time points. The 2004 survey included responses from 4,266 students, while the 2020–21 survey had responses from 3,256 students.

Both surveys gathered data on a wide range of variables, including gender, living situation, parents’ employment, and drug use, to ensure a comprehensive analysis of how various factors might influence adolescents’ attitudes toward pornography.

To assess pornography use, participants were first asked if they had ever used pornography. The surveys defined pornography broadly as “images or videos where one or more people engage in sexual acts, either alone or with others.” For those who reported using pornography, the frequency of their use over the last 12 months was categorized as: never, 1–2 times a year, some time each month, some time each week, and more or less daily.

In addition to tracking how often teenagers watched pornography, the researchers asked questions that delved into their emotional and cognitive reactions. These included whether students found pornography arousing, upsetting, or informative and whether it influenced their behaviors. The surveys also included questions about societal attitudes, such as whether pornography should be easily available or restricted, and whether it degrades women or men.

One of the most significant findings was the increase in the frequency of pornography use among both boys and girls, despite a slight decline in the overall percentage of adolescents who reported ever using pornography. While fewer students in 2020–21 reported ever using pornography compared to 2004, those who did use it were using it more frequently.

Among boys, the proportion of those using pornography weekly or daily rose sharply, from 40% in 2004 to 76% in 2020–21. Girls also showed a significant increase in frequent pornography use, with the percentage of weekly or daily users rising from just 2% in 2004 to 19% in 2020–21.

“The significant increase in girls’ frequency of pornography use is something we haven’t seen in previous studies in Sweden, suggesting that pornography’s ubiquity and changing social norms are influencing how both genders interact with it,” Donevan told PsyPost.

“In our discussion, we compare these findings to historical smoking trends, where smoking—initially a male-dominated behavior—became more common among women as norms shifted and it was marketed as a symbol of empowerment. Eventually, increased awareness of health risks led to declining rates in both genders. Similarly, as the health and societal impacts of pornography become more widely recognized, we may see parallel shifts in attitudes and behaviors.

Despite these increases in frequency of usage, the study found notable shifts in emotional and cognitive responses to pornography. Boys in the 2020–21 cohort were less likely to report feeling aroused or excited by pornography compared to boys in 2004 and fewer boys reported applying the behaviors they saw in pornography in their own sexual experiences.

“We were surprised that much of the convergence in responses and attitudes was due to boys becoming less excited and aroused by pornography and less inclined to imitate the behaviors they observe,” Donevan said. “This suggests a potential desensitization effect, where frequent exposure may lead to reduced arousal or interest.”

At the same time, girls reported fewer negative emotional reactions, such as feeling disgusted or upset, when using pornography in 2020–21 compared to 2004. This change in girls’ responses might be linked to increased pornography use and the reduction of stigma around female pornography consumption.

Another key finding was the narrowing of the gender gap in attitudes toward pornography. While boys continued to hold more permissive attitudes than girls, both genders showed increased tolerance for pornography’s availability by 2020–21. More boys and girls agreed that pornography should be easily accessible, and fewer supported legal restrictions on its availability.

However, despite this greater tolerance, both boys and girls became more critical of pornography’s purported benefits. By 2020–21, fewer adolescents believed that pornography was a good source of sexual information or that it had a positive impact on sexual relationships, indicating growing skepticism about its value.

Importantly, the study also highlighted persistent gender differences in how boys and girls perceive the content and societal impacts of pornography. Girls were significantly more likely than boys to view pornography as degrading to women and to believe that those involved in its production are exploited. While nearly half of the girls in the 2020–21 cohort agreed that pornography exploits its participants, only 20% of boys shared this view.

“Our study shows that both boys and girls are using pornography more frequently, and their attitudes toward it are becoming more tolerant,” Donevan told PsyPost. “This is concerning, given the strong association between frequent pornography use and adverse outcomes, including harmful gender stereotypes, risky sexual behaviors, and, among boys, a link to sexual violence perpetration. Thankfully, perhaps due to increased societal awareness, educational initiatives, or the felt impact of its personal effects, adolescents are becoming more critical of its perceived benefits.”

“Educational efforts remain essential to help young people critically engage with pornography and understand its potential impacts. Moreover, clinicians, educators, and parents should be aware of these trends to better support young people in navigating and critically assessing pornography’s influence on their development and well-being.”

One limitation of this study is that it uses a cross-sectional design, making it difficult to establish causal relationships. “We can’t determine the exact mechanisms behind the observed changes in attitudes and responses,” Donevan noted. Additionally, the study was conducted in Sweden, a country with a unique cultural and social context, particularly regarding attitudes toward sexuality and gender equality. As a result, the findings might not be fully generalizable to adolescents in other cultural settings, where norms, values, and access to pornography may differ significantly.

Despite these limitations, the study offers important insights into evolving patterns of pornography use and sets the stage for future research.

“My colleagues and I aim to continue these representative studies to explore evolving trends and patterns,” Donevan said. “In our next manuscript, we aim to explore risk factors like age, gender, and mental health among adolescents who have sent nude images online, comparing those with low versus high trauma symptoms to identify predictors of psychological distress.”

“In addition to examining young people’s pornography use, my colleagues and I also focus on the impacts of pornography on those filmed for its production. This holistic perspective is key to truly understanding the broader societal implications of pornography. It is concerning that so few boys recognize the misogyny and exploitation within the pornography industry. We hope our research will contribute to public discussions and educational interventions that address pornography’s impact on users, those exploited in its production, and society at large.”

The study, “Closing the Gender Gap? A Cohort Comparison of Adolescent Responses to and Attitudes Toward Pornography, 2004 vs. 2021,” was authored by M. Donevan, M. Bladh, Å. Landberg, L. S. Jonsson, G. Priebe, I. Dennhag, and C. G. Svedin.