Does watching porn make young people want to act it out — in a bad way?

After all, modern adult video isn't exactly a romance novel. It can border on violence and it's certainly often degrading toward women. Role playing? Sure, but the role is almost always the same. You rarely see a guy on his knees. But there's plenty of choking and slapping.

New York University media studies professor Chyng Sun thinks that kind of imagery is having its effect on young people:

She's conducting a study to prove it. New York magazine:

She hypothesizes that people who watch a lot of porn eventually develop sexual desires that resemble porn sex, most of which is unrealistic and oftentimes sexist, racist, and violent. Even people who don't consume porn on a regular basis are affected because much of pornography has been mainstreamed and normalized.

Indeed, the concept of the “money shot” is now a punchline in mainstream media, a gang bang is when multiple reporters get on a big story, and the porn-pioneered hairless beauty is now one role model for young women.

But the imagery and people behind the words is real, and Sun thinks porn has changed the bedroom behavior of young America.

“I think there needs to be a lot of honest conversations around porn,” she tells NY mag.

We'll keep our eye out for the results.

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