Pornography and Gen Z: The hidden impact on mental health, relationships, and self-image

Written by: Dr Neha Mehta

This generation - or Gen Z as they are now known all across - is facing a major issue; the widespread access to pornography. Over the past decade, the internet has made explicit content incredibly easy to access, and many youngsters are viewing it without fully understanding the long-term effects that it may have on them.

Nearly 93 per cent of boys and 62 per cent of girls have been exposed to pornography before they turn 18. This startling data from the American Psychological Association (APA) highlights how common it has become for Gen Z to encounter explicit content online.

Even as doctors and psychologists warn about the harmful effect that early exposure to such content leading can have on brain development, mental health, and sexual behavior, parents, educators, and health experts remain a worried lot.

And this frequent exposure to explicit content can lead youngsters to seek out more extreme material to feel the same excitement, leading to addictive behaviour. As a result of which many young people find themselves in a vicious loop of watching pornography, despite knowing how terribly it¡¯s going to affect their lives and hamper their daily activities, and school performance, and don¡¯t even get started on the ¡°high-expectations¡± with relationships, and all of his leads to even more mental health problems.

The problems with Gen Z exposure to pornography at such young age

Gen Z is navigating a crucial stage of development, both emotionally and mentally. Their brains are still growing, and they are trying to figure out their identities, relationships, and the world around them. Exposure to pornography can lead to several serious problems that affect their growth and well-being.

Unrealistic expectations about relationships and intimacy: Young people may come to believe that the exaggerated scenes they encounter in pornography reflect their real-life relationships and intimacy. But hey, wait this is not at all true, what they see and what they experience can never be the same, but these films can definitely confuse and harm their future relationships.

Body image issues and self-esteem challenges: Seeing idealized bodies in porn films can make young people feel insecure about their appearance, leading to low self-esteem.

The rising risk of addiction to pornography: Repeated exposure to pornography can trigger the brain¡¯s reward system, and this is exactly how drugs work. Over the time, this can lead to dependency, with young people seeking more extreme content to experience the same level of excitement.

Mental health concerns linked to pornography consumption: Research shows that young people who consume pornography regularly are more likely to suffer from anxiety, depression, and other mental challenges.

Gen Z, exposed to pornography, often face difficulties in impulse control and emotional regulation, which can affect their relationships. Additionally, the unrealistic portrayals of intimacy in pornography can create confusion about confusion about real-life relationships, leading to skewed ideas about sexual behavior and expectations.

Steps to address the issue of porn addiction - what should parents do?

While this issue may seem overwhelming, there are several steps that can reduce the negative effects of pornography:

Open conversations with children: Parents and guardians should talk openly with their kids about the potentials dangers they might encounter online. It¡¯s important to explain that pornography doesn¡¯t show healthy or realistic relationships.

Better sex education: And instead of just basic reproduction chapters, schools need to offer comprehensive sex education ¡°without hesitation¡± that can help the children to understand the difference between pornography and real-life relationships.

Mental health support: For children who have been exposed to excessive explicit content, then therapy and counseling can help them process their feelings and avoid negative consequences.

Credit: Self

About the author: Expert Dr Neha Mehta, a renowned psychologist and sex therapist, has been a leading voice in mental health and sexual counseling for over a decade. She has counselled young teenagers and encouraged them to talk openly about their feelings and experiences related to pornography over the years. Through her sessions, she urges parents and teachers to talk openly about how pornography affects the mental health and relationships of young folks, helping them understand intimacy better. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are that of the author. The facts and opinions expressed here do not reflect the views of www.indiatimes.com