Investigation into the Connection Between Destructive Pornography and Well-being, Mental State

The NSW government is committed to addressing the growing community concern regarding children’s exposure to violence and extreme pornography.

A parliamentary investigation into the impact of “harmful pornography” on health and mental well-being will take place in New South Wales (NSW).

Attorney General Michael Daley has requested this inquiry from the chair of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Social Issues, Sarah Kaine.

The Labor government is eager to tackle the increasing worry about children’s exposure to violence and extreme pornography within the community.

This follows a 2023 eSafety Commissioner report which revealed that 75 percent of teenagers aged 16 to 18 had accessed online pornography, with nearly one-third seeing it before the age of 13.

The report also expressed concerns about easily accessible mainstream pornography containing depictions of sexual violence and degrading sexual scripts about women.

The inquiry will focus on investigating the impact of “violent and misogynistic” pornography on mental, emotional, and physical health.

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The inquiry will also examine the spread of deepfake or AI-generated content.

Furthermore, it will investigate the effects of pornography on minority groups, such as First Nations, culturally diverse, LGBT, and individuals with disabilities.

Hannah Tonkin, NSW Women’s Safety Commissioner, has raised concerns about children being unintentionally exposed to extreme forms of pornography.

“This exposure comes at a critical time in children’s lives when they are forming attitudes towards gender roles, sex, and relationships.

Tonkin stressed the urgent need to enhance understanding of the impact of attitudes and behaviors, especially those of boys and young men.”

“I welcome this timely inquiry and anticipate its outcomes,” she added.

Meanwhile, Daley remarked on a generation of young men growing up with unprecedented online access.

“This includes early and easy access to pornography that depicts harmful treatment of women,” stated the attorney general.

“This inquiry will, for the first time in our state, shed light on the full impact of harmful online pornography and young people’s access to it.”

The inquiry’s terms of reference will cover a wide range of issues including physical impact, age of initial exposure, minority groups, current education programs, existing restrictions, and support available to parents, caregivers, and children.

Jodie Harrison, Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, emphasized the government’s commitment to addressing domestic violence and assault from all angles.

“This includes combating the normalization of misogyny and violence online,” Harrison stated.

“The ease with which children and youth can access this content is extremely alarming, and it is crucial that we undertake this inquiry and continue this essential conversation.”

A recent Our Watch report card, released in late July, shows a 66 percent decrease in women killed by men over the last three decades.

“As children and young individuals, we learn through imitation. It is through mimicking sounds and receiving positive responses from our parents that we learn our first words.”

Carter expressed encouragement at the recognition in the parliamentary chamber of the importance of the link between pornography and violence.

She highlighted an Our Watch background paper that points out many young people initially view pornography as “educational.”

“They often watch it to learn how to be sexually intimate. However, this type of pornography is teaching them that the objectification and aggressive treatment of women are not only normal but expected,” she added.

Carter emphasized that it is not just young men but also young women who are internalizing these messages, impacting their expectations. She expressed concern that their understanding of what to expect is being distorted by pornography.