A new research project will explore how online pornography influences adolescents' views on sex, relationships, and gender equality in today's digital age.
Teenagers are more exposed than ever to explicit content online thanks to the explosion of online access via smartphones and social media. This study by Dr Alessia Tranchese, Senior Lecturer in Communication and Applied Linguistics at the University of Portsmouth and Research Fellow at the Centre for Advanced Internet Studies (CAIS) in Germany, seeks to uncover the messages young people encounter through pornography and how these affect their understanding of sexual relationships.
Most teenagers will see online pornography during their early adolescence, and concerns are mounting about its impact. According to recent reports, many young people are exposed to pornography without their parents' knowledge, which often shapes their perceptions in damaging ways. There is also growing evidence that this exposure reinforces harmful gender stereotypes, puts pressure on young people to engage in risky sexual behaviours, and promotes unrealistic body standards.
The aim is to use this research to inform both policymakers and educators, giving them the tools to better address the needs of today's students.
Dr Alessia Tranchese, Senior Lecturer in Communication and Applied Linguistics at the University of Portsmouth
Dr Tranchese will carry out in-depth analysis of two of the largest pornographic websites, PornHub and XVideos. She will look at video content, keywords, titles, and user comments to determine how online pornography portrays sex and relationships. The study aims to uncover the dominant themes young viewers are exposed to and how these narratives might shape their perceptions of consent, gender equality, and intimacy.
The project's key objectives are to:
- Identify what ideas online pornography communicate about sex, relationships, consent, and gender roles
- The strategies are used by websites to attract viewers to explicit content
- The perspectives in users' comments differ from the content itself
Dr Tranchese hopes to lay the groundwork for more effective sex education in schools and a toolkit for educators to help young people evaluate and navigate the complexities of digital media.
Pornography is a huge part of young people's online experiences, and yet we don't fully understand the messages it's sending or how teenagers are internalising them. This project will provide the evidence needed to bridge that gap.
Dr Alessia Tranchese , Senior Lecturer in Communication and Applied Linguistics at the University of Portsmouth
Dr Alessia Tranchese says: "The aim is to use this research to inform both policymakers and educators, giving them the tools to better address the needs of today's students. Pornography is a huge part of young people's online experiences, and yet we don't fully understand the messages it's sending or how teenagers are internalising them. This project will provide the evidence needed to bridge that gap."
The study will start at the beginning of October 2024 and run for six months.
