The closing porn gap: differences in pornography use across generations by gender

Viewing pornography is an accessible sexual behavior across the lifespan. Much of the pornography prevalence research across generations that exists is dated. The objective of this study was to compare differences in pornography use across generations and between genders in a sample of adults from the United States.

Cross-sectional data (N = 1284) for the current project were from the third wave of a five-wave longitudinal study collected online in March 2023 using data matched to US census norms. Two-way between-subjects analysis of variances analyzed main and interaction effects of generation and gender on pornography use. Problematic pornography use (PPU) was measured by the Brief Pornography Screen. Extent of nonmainstream pornography use was measured by the Nonmainstream Pornography Use Extent Scale.

Younger generations of Americans reported earlier ages of both first exposure to pornography and the onset of regular viewing compared to older generations. Younger generations reported viewing pornography more frequently and for longer durations than older generations. Younger generations also scored higher on a PPU measure and extent of nonmainstream pornography use than older generations. Across most generations, men reported viewing pornography younger, more frequently, for longer durations, and endorsed more symptoms of PPU than women. Notably, in Generation Z, men and women were not significantly different in their age of first seeing and the age of when regular pornography viewing began.

Younger generations reported earlier ages of pornography exposure and regular pornography viewing than older generations, highlighting the importance of developmentally appropriate pornography education, sexual health communication, and media literacy efforts for young people. Limitations of this study include the cross-sectional design, reliance on retrospective self-report measures, and exclusion of a sizable number of participants. To conclude, younger generations reported earlier and more frequent pornography use, endorsed more symptoms of PPU and more nonmainstream pornography use, compared to older generations.