Research shows that the gender gap in pornography use and attitudes among teens is closing

A new study published in The Journal of Sex Research indicates that Swedish adolescents are using pornography more often, with notable shifts in their attitudes. Between 2004 and 2020-2021, both boys and girls have become more tolerant of pornography, but increasingly skeptical of its supposed benefits. Interestingly, the once prominent gender gap in responses to pornography has narrowed significantly, with boys and girls now reporting similar emotional and behavioral responses.

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

“Pornography has changed dramatically in recent decades, and we knew little about how adolescents’ responses and attitudes toward pornography have changed over time. Our data provided a unique opportunity to close this gap,” says 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 students in 2004 and 2020-2021. Both surveys included identical questions about pornography use, attitudes and responses, allowing the researchers to directly compare data from these two time points. The 2004 survey included responses from 4,266 students, while the 2020-2021 survey included responses from 3,256 students.

Both studies collected data on a wide range of variables, including gender, living arrangements, parental employment, and drug use, to provide a comprehensive analysis of how different factors can influence adolescents’ attitudes toward pornography.

To assess pornography use, participants were first asked if they had ever used pornography. The studies broadly defined pornography as “images or videos in which one or more people engage in sexual acts, alone or with others.” For those who reported using pornography, the frequency of their use in the past twelve months was categorized as: never, once or twice a year, some time per month, some time per week, and more or less daily.

In addition to tracking how often teens viewed pornography, the researchers asked questions that delved into their emotional and cognitive responses. These included whether students found pornography arousing, disturbing, or informative and whether it affected their behavior. The surveys also included questions about social attitudes, such as whether pornography should be easily available or restricted, and whether it degrades women or men.

One of the key findings was the increase in the frequency of pornography use among both boys and girls, despite a slight decrease in the overall percentage of adolescents who reported ever using pornography. Although fewer students reported ever using pornography in 2020-2021 than in 2004, those who did used it were more likely to use it.

Among boys, the proportion of those who use pornography weekly or daily has risen sharply, from 40% in 2004 to 76% in 2020-2021. 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 2020-2021.

“The significant increase in girls’ use of pornography is something we have not seen in previous studies in Sweden, suggesting that the ubiquity of pornography and changing social norms are influencing the way both genders interact with it,” Donevan told to PsyPost.

“In our discussion, we compare these findings to historical smoking trends, where smoking – initially a male-dominated behavior – became increasingly common among women as norms changed and it was marketed as a symbol of empowerment. Ultimately, increased awareness of health risks led to declining rates in both genders. Likewise, as the health and social consequences of pornography become more widely recognized, we may see parallel shifts in attitudes and behavior.

Despite this increase in frequency of use, the study found notable shifts in the emotional and cognitive responses to pornography. Boys in the 2020-2021 cohort were less likely to report feeling aroused or aroused by pornography than boys in 2004, and fewer boys reported applying the behaviors they saw in pornography to their own sexual experiences.

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

At the same time, in 2020-2021, girls reported fewer negative emotional responses, such as disgust or anger, when using pornography compared to 2004. This change in girls’ responses may be related to the increased use of pornography and the reduction in stigma surrounding women . consumption of pornography.

Another key finding was the narrowing of the gender gap in attitudes towards pornography. Although boys continued to exhibit more tolerant attitudes than girls, both genders showed greater tolerance for the availability of pornography in 2020-2021. 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 the perceived benefits of pornography. Between 2020 and 2021, 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 research also highlights persistent gender differences in the way boys and girls perceive the content and social impact of pornography. Girls were significantly more likely than boys to view pornography as demeaning to women and to believe that those involved in its production were exploited. While almost half of girls in the 2020-2021 cohort agreed that pornography exploits participants, only 20% of boys shared this view.

“Our research shows that both boys and girls are using pornography more often, and that their attitudes toward pornography are becoming more tolerant,” Donevan told PsyPost. “This is concerning given the strong link between frequent pornography use and negative outcomes, including harmful gender stereotypes, risky sexual behavior and, among boys, a link to perpetrating sexual violence. Fortunately, perhaps due to increased social awareness, educational initiatives, or the perceived impact of its personal effects, adolescents are becoming increasingly critical of its perceived benefits.”

“Educational efforts remain essential to help young people critically engage with pornography and understand its potential consequences. Additionally, clinicians, educators, and parents must be aware of these trends to better support youth as they navigate and critically assess the impact of pornography on their development and well-being.”

A limitation of this study is that it uses a cross-sectional design, making it difficult to establish causal relationships. “We cannot determine the exact mechanisms behind the observed changes in attitudes and responses,” Donevan noted. Furthermore, the research was conducted in Sweden, a country with a unique cultural and social context, particularly in terms of attitudes towards sexuality and gender equality. As a result, the findings may 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 provides important insights into the evolving patterns of pornography use and sets the stage for future research.

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

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

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