The UK ‘Porn Ban’ – The How And The Why! READY TO REVIEW
You’ve probably heard about it; now Fumble is here to help you understand it
SO, THEY’RE MAKING PORN ILLEGAL?!
Nope. No, they’re not. It’s still going to exist.
What’s actually happening is that from July 15, 2019 onwards the government are going to be more closely enforcing an existing law – by running age verification checks – which says that anyone under the age of 18 is not allowed to watch pornographic material.
WAIT. So, it’s always been this way?! Yup, the only different now is that the government (via the British Board of Film Classification) is going to be enforcing that law more fully. So essentially, it’s more of a ‘porn block’ than a ‘porn ban’? Again, yup.
Adults over the age of 18 will need to prove their age before viewing any content too. This age verification system means either a) users entering their personal details into an online database; or b) buying a pass from a newsagent.
This might all sounds a bit heavy-handed, BUT let’s get one thing straight: the law is there to protect you, it’s on your side. It doesn’t want you to see inappropriate content; it’s not there to catch you out. Honestly.
The Internet is a wonderful place, but equally it’s incredibly dangerous too and the law is there is to make sure that balance shifts slightly more towards the positive side.
I mean, ask yourself, why is it ok by law to have sex at 16 but not watch porn until you’re 18?
Because it’s dangerous, that’s why.
And it has the capacity to negatively impact you’re your SEXUAL and MENTAL HEALTH. Also, a lot of young people are being exposed to porn when they don’t want to be, which isn’t cool.
In our opinion the four most dangerous things are as follows:
- Porn is fantasy and not a replacement for real sexual experiences.
- Porn reinforces a lot of negative gender stereotype and normalises abusive relationships.
- Porn puts a lot of unrealistic expectations and pressure on both men and women, in terms of body image and sexual performance.
- Porn is predominantly made by men for men, marginalising womens’ sexual experiences (likes, desires, and pleasure) in the process.
The point is, that porn has the power to impact your sexual experience, whether you choose it to or not.
So, let’s ask that question again: why is it ok by law to have sex at 16 but not watch porn until you’re 18?
Because the government want you to start have positive sexual experiences that are not informed by porn. They’re not trying to stop you having sex, they just want you to learn about it in a more realistic and less damaging way.
Sure, porn has a lot to answer for, butit’s not entirely to blame. People don’t have enough real conversations about sex – between friends, between different generations (with older/younger siblings and parents) – and as a result, people can often turn to porn for ‘sex ed’, which is, quite frankly, a horrible idea.
We should ALL be talking about IT and LEARNING from one another and through POSITIVE sexual experiences.
In short, sex is great but learning how to have safe, consensual sex is complicated. Which is why Fumble is here to help.
Check out some of the following articles:
Why It’s OK To Be A Sexual Novice: https://fumble.org.uk/why-its-ok-to-be-a-sexual-novice/
Ask Fumble: How Can I Communicate During Sex? https://fumble.org.uk/ask-fumble-how-can-i-communicate-during-sex/
Love Learning About Sex? Calling All Sex Nerds: https://fumble.org.uk/love-learning-about-sex/
How To Talk To Your Parents About Sex: https://fumble.org.uk/how-to-talk-to-your-parents-about-sex/
Am I Ready To Have Sex For The First Time? https://fumble.org.uk/ready-sex-first-time/
