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Why exactly is porn 18+?

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K

KDR_11k

Member
Once teenagers hit puberty they start fapping to stuff and looking for fap material. The idea of them secretly looking through nudie mags found god knows where is so old the trope has been well worn for comedy by now. But why exactly are we restricting them from getting porn? Ultimately it's well known that they find some way to fap anyway so all it does is produce this "secret to everybody" situation where teens aren't supposed to get that material but they always have it anyway and we're acting like that's unthinkable and a reason for guilt.

I get age restrictions for things like alcohol (can kill you), cars (can kill you and others), smoking (can kill you) and gambling (can ruin you) since you sometimes have to wonder if even adults are qualified to handle that stuff but porn? Sure, you don't want toddlers viewing porn (AFAIK might cause mental issues) but is there any damage at, say, 15 years old? Sure, there are fundies who think knowing about sex makes kids go to hell but they're by far in the minority and can't be the sole reason such a rule is held up unquestionably in the whole western world.
 
J

JP_

Banned
I think the idea is that until they're 18 (legal adult), it's up to the parents to draw that line rather than the law.
 
I

Izuna

Banned
It's not like there's any issue with people acquiring porn at a younger age... But at the same time, why would you deliberately take steps to enable under 18s to watch porn?

......
 
D

DrEvil

not a medical professional
Hanson-exploitable-fixed.png
 
I

Inferno313

Banned
Yeah, all that time I was 16 and alone with a computer in my bedroom, it was so frustrating to head to a porn site and have to close my window each time one of those 18+ warnings came up.
 
K

Knuckle Sandwich

Member
I don't think exposing a 15 year old to the vast amount of extreme and crazy porn is wise. By the time they have their first girlfriend they'll be so desensitized that the only thing they can cum to is pink socks.
 
Z

Zackat

Member
Because they aren't seen as adults by the law yet. It is adult material, meant for adults.

What is this.
 
M

Mephala

Member
KDR_11k said:
Once teenagers hit puberty they start fapping to stuff and looking for fap material. The idea of them secretly looking through nudie mags found god knows where is so old the trope has been well worn for comedy by now. But why exactly are we restricting them from getting porn? Ultimately it's well known that they find some way to fap anyway so all it does is produce this "secret to everybody" situation where teens aren't supposed to get that material but they always have it anyway and we're acting like that's unthinkable and a reason for guilt.

I get age restrictions for things like alcohol (can kill you), cars (can kill you and others), smoking (can kill you) and gambling (can ruin you) since you sometimes have to wonder if even adults are qualified to handle that stuff but porn? Sure, you don't want toddlers viewing porn (AFAIK might cause mental issues) but is there any damage at, say, 15 years old? Sure, there are fundies who think knowing about sex makes kids go to hell but they're by far in the minority and can't be the sole reason such a rule is held up unquestionably in the whole western world.
Click to expand...

At a younger age they may not understand that those are actors and models. It can setup unrealistic expectations and desires. At the end of the day we hope they are better educated and sensible at 18+. There are also some pretty nasty stuff out there too.
 
P

Pamplemousse

Member
In the U.S., it's illegal to show someone who is underage porn. They use 18 because it's the highest age of consent in the country.
 
Sorcerer

Sorcerer

Member
Sex is a serious issue with serious consequences. It may make not seem to make sense but some bottom line age has to be established where maturity, and accountability at least can be considered.
 
F

frankie_baby

Member
I remember trying to discreetly and embaressedly buy softcore porn mags at the newsagent when i was like 14 in the early 90s and feeling great i manged to buy them, but did later discover that contrary to popular opinion there wasnt actually an age restriction on them anyway
 
J

jelly

Member
Have you actually seen what's on porn sites. I know 18 plus is legal standard or whatever but I think you would be slightly more well adjusted the older you are if you didn't have access to some of that stuff at a younger age as you're still developing and easily molded.
 
K

Keri

Member
Mephala said:
At a younger age they may not understand that those are actors and models. It can setup unrealistic expectations and desires. At the end of the day we hope they are better educated and sensible at 18+. There are also some pretty nasty stuff out there too.
Click to expand...

Yeah, this. The younger the exposure to porn the more likely it is that porn is going to shape their expectations and, usually, it isn't healthy relationships being displayed in porn.
 
V

Vicetrailia

Member
No one's that concerned about acquiring porn, and so it matters little.

I guess the excuse is at 18 you're actually considered an adult. And nudity+ is adult material in these united states.
 
H

HeySeuss

Member
Is this a serious question?

Because it's illegal to distribute pornography to minors. The same reason minors can be arrested for texting dick pics.

They avoid being charged with it when minors view it because they've told them that they can't let them view it if they're under 18.

I can't believe I answered this question as it should be common sense.
 
I

Imp the Dimp

Member
I do think there is harm in porn as it doesn't depict sex the way most people have it. Also, demeaning image of women (in heterosexual porn) and usually no use of condoms which can teach bad and unsafe habits.
 
P

perfectchaos007

Member
Burbeting said:
If it isn't +18, where would you put the line?
Click to expand...

The issue of porn age restriction imo is that ALL porn is 18+, so when a boy is 17, he can't buy a playboy to see some tasteful nudes, but when he's 18 he can watch a girl getting triple penetrated in a sex dungeon. I would suggest bringing back the X, XX, XXX rating system. To watch/purchase X material like playboy you have to be 16. To go on standard porn sites that show basic sex XX stuff, 18. And XXX fucked up porn like efukt would be 21+
 
S

StalkerUKCG

Banned
Well in the UK is serves no real purpose to be 18 since the age of consent it 16. However it's strictly in line with the US Age of Consent. Makes sense in that case.
 
G

Glix

Member
HeySeuss said:
Is this a serious question?

Because it's illegal to distribute pornography to minors. The same reason minors can be arrested for texting dick pics.

They avoid being charged with it when minors view it because they've learned them that they can't let them view it if they're under 18.

I can't believe I answered this question as it should be common sense.
Click to expand...

Is this a serious answer?

The OP is much more about why society thinks its not okay for kids under 18 to view that stuff.
 
styl3s

styl3s

Member
Mephala said:
At a younger age they may not understand that those are actors and models. It can setup unrealistic expectations and desires. At the end of the day we hope they are better educated and sensible at 18+. There are also some pretty nasty stuff out there too.
Click to expand...
When i was 12,13,14,15+ looking at some nasty ass porn i wasn't looking at it thinking "this is what sex is gonna be like" or was creating all these standards in my head i was trying to cum into a sock so i could have a orgasm before someone got home.
 
A

Armaros

Member
perfectchaos007 said:
The issue of porn age restriction imo is that ALL porn is 18+, so when a boy is 17, he can't buy a playboy to see some tasteful nudes, but when he's 18 he can watch a girl getting triple penetrated in a sex dungeon. I would suggest bringing back the X, XX, XXX rating system. To watch/purchase X material like playboy you have to be 16. To go on standard porn sites that show basic sex XX stuff, 18. And XXX fucked up porn like efukt would be 21+
Click to expand...

So the legal system gets extremely muddied up with determining what level of porn is what?

All so 16-17 year olds legally can get basic porn earlier?
 
F

frankie_baby

Member
perfectchaos007 said:
The issue of porn age restriction imo is that ALL porn is 18+, so when a boy is 17, he can't buy a playboy to see some tasteful nudes, but when he's 18 he can watch a girl getting triple penetrated in a sex dungeon. I would suggest bringing back the X, XX, XXX rating system. To watch/purchase X material like playboy you have to be 16. To go on standard porn sites that show basic sex XX stuff, 18. And XXX fucked up porn like efukt would be 21+
Click to expand...

Can (or at least could) buy a playboy in the uk at 17 or younger even its only hardcore that's 18+ restricted
 
P

perfectchaos007

Member
Armaros said:
So the legal system gets extremely muddied up with determining what level of porn is what?

All so 16-17 year olds legally can get basic porn earlier?
Click to expand...

We have a content rating system for games, the ESRB. And we have a content rating for film, the motion picture rating system. Why not one for X material? And the age restrictions will be enforced based on the rating.
 
H

HeySeuss

Member
Glix said:
Is this a serious answer?

The OP is much more about why society thinks its not okay for kids under 18 to view that stuff.
Click to expand...

That certainly is a better question, but not what he said in his post. He seems like he genuinely has no idea why.

"Sure, you don't want toddlers viewing porn..."

He's not asking from a societal perspective.
 
K

kurahador

Member
Because not having it meant any lawyer out there could argue that the stars are showing their genitalia knowing kids will see it.
And do you know what happens to ppl who gets convicted for that?
 
A

Armaros

Member
perfectchaos007 said:
We have a content rating system for games, the ESRB. And we have a content rating for film, the motion picture rating system. Why not one for X material? And the age restrictions will be enforced based on the rating.
Click to expand...

ESRB is a voluntary system made by the industry so the government doesn't get involved in rating games. You are saying the government should get In porn rating.

Also you are proposing to complicate a system so you can add 3 ages to adult material. 16, 17 and 18+ Vs just 18+

If that doesn't scream governmental waste and over-regulation , I don't know what.

All of this so teens can legally get porn 1-2 years earlier?
 
R

Rembrandt

Banned
perfectchaos007 said:
The issue of porn age restriction imo is that ALL porn is 18+, so when a boy is 17, he can't buy a playboy to see some tasteful nudes, but when he's 18 he can watch a girl getting triple penetrated in a sex dungeon. I would suggest bringing back the X, XX, XXX rating system. To watch/purchase X material like playboy you have to be 16. To go on standard porn sites that show basic sex XX stuff, 18. And XXX fucked up porn like efukt would be 21+
Click to expand...

That's pretty unnecessary to extend the viewing on some things by 3 years to cut it overall by 2.

Glix said:
Is this a serious answer?

The OP is much more about why society thinks its not okay for kids under 18 to view that stuff.
Click to expand...

I don't think society really thinks it's not okay for kids under 18 to not view it. 18 just seems in line with the other restrictions on more adult things but skirting that line seems commonly accepted
 
I

Inferno313

Banned
perfectchaos007 said:
We have a content rating system for games, the ESRB. And we have a content rating for film, the motion picture rating system. Why not one for X material? And the age restrictions will be enforced based on the rating.
Click to expand...

I hear you... but like, what on earth would the benefits of such a system? No 16 year old has trouble finding porn as-is.
 
L

lenovox1

Member
StalkerUKCG said:
Well in the UK is serves no real purpose to be 18 since the age of consent it 16. However it's strictly in line with the US Age of Consent. Makes sense in that case.
Click to expand...

There is no US age of consent. Age of consent is determined by each state. It's merely illegal to distribute sexually explicit material to minors and illegal to solicit sex from a minor across state lines in the United States.
 
M

Media

Member
I busted my 10 and 13 year old sons looking some serious shit online. No, teens are not prepared mentally for the shit they can find. Imagine the worst porn you've seen, and then imagine that is someone's first experience with porn.
 
F

Familienoberhauptvogel

Banned
Hollywood Duo said:
Both extremes are bad. Giving a little kid unchecked access to porn can completely skew their perception of what a healthy sexual relationship is like just the same as that bible thumping BS.
Click to expand...
little kids have unchecked access to porn, do you think many people install a web filter on the tablets they hand their kids from the age of 2?
Phrozenflame500 said:
With the advent of the internet most 18+ warnings are nominal at best anyways.
Click to expand...

well it can stop people not good at math.
 
H

hydrophilic attack

Member
In my country it's apparently a big problem that kids get this skewed perception of sexuality from porn. They talk about it rather often on the news. Thirteen year old girls wanting to do cosmetic pubic surgery and feeling pressured to agree to anything with the boys. Couple this with toxic masculinity and you have a nasty cocktail that serves as a breeding ground for abuse
 
K

Kater

Banned
It definitely isn't comparable with other adult media that shows gore, psychological torture, etc. At least the "vanilla" porn. There's a lot of dark stuff out there however, ranging from rape fantasy over to incest rp and other genres that are now really popular in the porn industry, if they weren't always. So there's probably the reason why they haven't lowered the age ratings for pornographic films and photography and probably never will.

perfectchaos007 said:
We have a content rating system for games, the ESRB. And we have a content rating for film, the motion picture rating system. Why not one for X material? And the age restrictions will be enforced based on the rating.
Click to expand...
I'd be all for making a new system where really brutal films are rated 21+. There's some stuff you might just appreciate such a rating for, since it would make you think twice about watching it. Talking from my own experience here.
 
H

Hazmat

Member
HeySeuss said:
Is this a serious question?

Because it's illegal to distribute pornography to minors. The same reason minors can be arrested for texting dick pics.

They avoid being charged with it when minors view it because they've told them that they can't let them view it if they're under 18.

I can't believe I answered this question as it should be common sense.
Click to expand...

He's asking why it's illegal. Is your answer that it's illegal because it's illegal?

For what it's worth, I agree with the poster that says it's up to the parents officially until they're 18. Although, that gets muddied when you can see some decently sexy stuff in R-rated movies at 17, and occasionally some breasts in a PG-13 far younger.
 
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