27 Jun 2021

***DISCLAIMER: Year13 does not encourage underage readership of this article.***

Porn. It’s a taboo subject that a lot of people avoid talking about. Yeah, you don’t want to talk about it with your ‘rents, like the same way you cringe when you’re watching a movie and a sex scene pops up. So, why are we bringing this up? 

Well, it’s because 2 in 3 young Aussie’s are watching porn according to a study conducted by triple J and the average age of first exposure to pornography is declining according to the Burnet Institute. Whether you watch it or not, it's a given fact that Australia is a horn dog of a country.

That’s not necessarily a good or bad thing. Don’t get me wrong, porn is a great source for empowering sexual health and wellness. But it becomes a bit of a sticky sitch (pun intended) when you start comparing porn to your sex life. Whether you’ve read a hot fan fiction, watched a video that you can’t get enough of or can’t stop fantasising over an erotic movie scene, remember, they’re just that: fantasies. 

These are highly directed, planned, and executed pieces of work, therefore should not be compared to your jam-packed, whenever a bit of fun can be fitted in, sex life. Here’s why.

It can create unrealistic body expectations

Whether it's high quality stuff or somethin' a bit more on the amateur side, chances are these people have bodies to die for. And sometimes, it's because they're expected to look and act in a certain way because it's their line of work. And there's nothin' wrong with that - just like a bodybuilder is expected to pertain a certain physique. 

Instead of a 9-5 job, they may be at the gym making sure they're getting the perfect bod. In reality, we don't know what goes on behind the scenes when it comes to be an adult actor. But what you should know is that you should never feel ashamed for any part of your body.

For the most part, it’s not real

There are cuts, breaks, different camera angles, lighting, directing, the list goes on. Most porn is just someone's fantasy of how they want sex to be and isn't like the real thing at all (the real thing involves a lot more awkward eye-contact and fumbling around).

Look, it can teach you a handful of things - positions, anatomy, what you think you may like. And with limited sex ed in school (yes, hello to the infamous milkshake), it's only nature we resort to the internet to teach us things school doesn't.

Just remember that sex is nothing like porn - but that doesn't mean porn isn't good either.

Sh-... stuff happens

Okay, not literally, but maybe.

Look, you’ll make ugly noises. You'll cackle at the transitions between positions because they're not as hot and exciting, even sometimes a bit awkward. The bed will be squeaky. The lube will stink and be messy. It won’t be like what you watch.

Find out what ya like from your own experiences - it's just like how you shouldn't base your relationship off sappy romantic teenage dramas, they're not real!