Giving access to porn to woo young voters..

USA - have you gone nuts??

Artwork by Afterskool, Mark W.

I am not invested in elections. I think its the voters who suffer the most anyway, not the ones who get elected. But elections are important, in a sense that they are directing the public conscience. I am all in for total freedom for the individual. No other thing or entity - other than his conscience of course, should be in control of the individual. But, recent studies and the years of social manipulation and brainwashing have proved that we are prone to manipulation more than any other time in history and governments manipulate us the most. Then, the case for the entity and the ones within the entity to be at the very least, moral, takes the centre stage. But we have been witnessing the exact opposite for the past decade.

I was skimming through some news and this one line about the “porn access to young voters as an election promise” struck me and got me thinking. It got me thinking because I too, like many young men, if not all of them, had gone through a phase where porn had become an irresistible addiction. I could see its effects on my health, my mental well-being, my social interactions. I was basically a piece of flesh that was releasing dopamine at a extremely high rate. This got me extremely disinterested in life and its everyday stuff. The taboo around this meant that I had no one to talk to about this issue and there wasn’t really any point in talking to the ones in my generation - they were fed an alternate truth, like I was, that this was freedom.

The recent debate over pornography access in U.S. politics underscores a broader cultural struggle that’s reshaping society's understanding of freedom, personal rights, and the hidden effects of adult content on younger generations. With a renewed push by some political groups to normalize and promote pornography, particularly as a way to win over disillusioned young voters, it's worth re-examining the darker, long-term consequences that readily accessible pornography can have, especially on young men and women.

1. How did it become so normal??

In an era where information, images, and media are at our fingertips, pornography has become alarmingly accessible. According to research, the average age for first exposure to pornography is now as low as 11, and frequent exposure can quickly become a norm. As porn becomes more mainstream, it’s also woven into political narratives where access is branded as a symbol of freedom. Yet, these new “freedoms” are shaping mental, emotional, and relational habits that may affect individuals for life. This, to me, is dystopian, but a certain Marshall McLuhan (who we should really dig deep into in this digital age) predicted this long before internet was even a thing.

Pornography and violence are by-products of societies in which private identity has been... destroyed by sudden environmental change

Marshall McLuhan

In the 20th century, prominent feminists like Andrea Dworkin argued vehemently that pornography dehumanizes and objectifies women, a stance that remains relevant today.

The new pornography is left-wing; and the new pornography is a vast graveyard where the Left has gone to die. The Left cannot have its whores and its politics too.

Andrea Dworkin

I am not a right-winger btw, I am liberal in some thoughts and conservative in others, but this hell into which modern liberalism has entered, is scary to say the least.

Today’s digital porn industry continues to exploit and, at times, abuse those involved while creating an addictive product for viewers. And although there is more widespread awareness of social justice, with some critique from Left-leaning activists regarding the fetishization of marginalized groups, much of this criticism has given way to an embrace of "sex positivity," creating a confusing cultural message. Normalizing porn as an innocent pastime belies its impact on developing minds, attitudes, and relationships.

2. The Psychological Toll on Young Viewers

One of the most concerning aspects of pornography's availability is the effect it has on mental health and the psychological development of young people. This is what my experience says too. I was fighting a losing battle - totally disillusioned about the world and the worst part, I did not even know what was causing this. Studies increasingly show that heavy pornography consumption rewires the brain, reshaping the reward system in ways that can lead to addiction. Like other addictive behaviors, the cycle of reward and release can numb natural responses to everyday life, desensitizing users to real human intimacy. For young men, in particular, porn addiction has been linked to increased levels of depression, social anxiety, and low self-esteem, fuelling the perception that sexual relationships and personal worth hinge solely on physical appearance and performance. A study published in Addictive Behaviors (2017) found that regular porn use is correlated with higher levels of depressive symptoms and feelings of loneliness.

The impact on mental health can often be traced back to a negative feedback loop: users turn to pornography to cope with stress or loneliness, but frequent use tends to exacerbate these very feelings. For example, studies have shown that porn users are often caught in cycles of shame and guilt after using porn, especially when their consumption contradicts personal or societal values. Over time, these negative feelings contribute to a more prolonged state of dissatisfaction with oneself and can make individuals more prone to symptoms of depression and anxiety.

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3. The Breakdown of Real-World Intimacy

The long-term effects of pervasive pornography are also visible in the breakdown of intimacy in relationships. Many young men, having consumed unrealistic and exaggerated depictions of sexual behaviour for years, enter into adult relationships with deeply skewed perceptions. This disconnect can manifest as dissatisfaction, lack of emotional connection, and, in some cases, an inability to perform sexually without the stimulus of pornography.

Artwork by Jeff Tao.

Pornography also warps expectations about relationships, leading young people to develop unrealistic and sometimes harmful ideas about intimacy. Rather than fostering meaningful, lasting connections, frequent exposure to pornography reinforces a transactional view of relationships and reduces people to objects of gratification. Check out my experience in an English university. This distorted understanding can lead to decreased satisfaction in real-life relationships and contributes to a cycle of dissatisfaction, isolation, and anxiety.

The damaging effects of these attitudes aren’t just personal; they impact broader social dynamics. As more young people grow up with an expectation that relationships are about gratification rather than connection, community bonds and mutual respect suffer.

Tell me of another time in history when these ideas were societally accepted?

Dworkin observed decades ago, the cycle of dehumanization and exploitation often pushes performers into an environment that trivializes trauma and obscures human rights abuses under a veil of "freedom of expression."

4. A Call for Help

While advocates for freedom of choice argue that adults should have access to the content they wish to consume, it's crucial to consider the broader impacts of this unchecked freedom. Responsible and mindful consumption, paired with a public dialogue that addresses the harmful impacts of pornography on developing minds, can create a healthier, more balanced approach. Moreover, it’s scary that we are putting teenagers, as small as fourteen, in a position to make important choices, like this one, by themselves. There is a reason why society all over the world thrived on values shared by community. It’s only wise that some decisions are left to the adults to make. Now, I understand the other side of the story, notably a straightout ban or an implementation of Digital ID’s to prove your age might slip into despair. After all internet anonymity is a real thing and it should be kept that way. Giving away our rights to the hands of government may be like quicksand. We won’t understand how it would be used and restrictions are only good in a city where its rulers are moral, an immoral ruler might use your digital identity for wrong purposes. This is understandable.

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www.ashutoshjoshi.in

Many countries have enacted age restrictions, prompting the industry to adjust access based on users’ ages, but age restrictions alone aren't enough. Comprehensive education that teaches young people about healthy relationships, mutual respect, and responsible online behaviour is essential. Moreover, political entities on all sides of the debate could do well to examine the wider social and psychological costs of promoting pornographic content as a casual pastime.

The political spotlight on pornography may be relatively new, but its presence has deeply rooted implications for personal freedoms, mental health, and societal well-being. For a healthier future, it’s worth promoting balanced perspectives that acknowledge the real consequences of pornography while emphasizing respectful and meaningful relationships.

Rather than framing pornography as a symbol of personal freedom, we should recognize it for the powerful, often exploitative force it can be. By promoting awareness, cultivating responsible behavior, and encouraging real-world intimacy over digital facades, society can make strides toward healthier and more fulfilling human connections for generations to come.

After all, whether we like it or not, what America does, the world tends to follow and if America is putting out this example, it won’t take too long for the rest of the world to catch up. It already is.

I had no intentions on writing this post by the way. You might guess that this is so different to what I usually write - about a tiny village on the Indian countryside. But, putting out my example is necessary because I have been that teenager who didn’t have a support system nor the ability to research my way through this. I suffered for long before finally finding peace - so it’s quite normal that something like this triggers me and this is a preventable affair. I keep repeating this, what the younger generation is facing through the social media, the elder generation cannot even fathom the ugliness of it. It will be too late before the researchers catch up on this trend, but until then we would have lost a great number of beautiful minds to these addictions. The time is now. Speak out and share it with the ones who most need it.

Do write your thoughts in the comments section below and like this article. This gives me much needed motivation to keep going. I hope you are loving and living your life!

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There is one more thing by the way.

Most of you joined this Substack after reading stories from Saving a Village. In that series, I spoke about the urgency of taking action against the looming threats of deforestation, coastal highway projects, and the chemical and oil factories set to rise in this eco-sensitive zone. These developments could devastate many villages, including mine. That’s why I’ve decided to embark on a 500-kilometer journey on foot, across this stretch of land.

My purpose isn’t political, nor am I here to point fingers at specific companies or factories. Instead, I want to visit each village, sharing the message that while change is inevitable, it’s vital that we steer it in the right direction. I have no desire to cast myself as a hero; my goal is simply to witness this land and its fading culture before it's too late. However, if I can raise awareness and ignite even a small spark of understanding, I’ll be content knowing I did what I could.

But I can't do this alone. To plan the walk and cover necessary supplies, I need your support. Unfortunately, platforms like Kickstarter and other crowdfunding sites aren't available to me here in India, so I’m relying on your donations. You can contribute through PayPal—here’s the link. For donations over $30, I’d love to send you a personalized postcard as a token of gratitude.

I’ll delve deeper into this journey in the upcoming newsletters. Thank you for your support! Ptah out.