Here’s a thought: even if the core of a message is legitimate and supported by facts, how that message is delivered sometimes matters more.
How often are consumers uninterested in a product because of poor messaging?
Here’s an example: Carl’s Jr., the restaurant. In the past, some people were too deterred by their objectifying, hyper-sexualized ads to even think twice about trying one of their burgers.
Raising awareness about porn’s harms is an educational movement that benefits society—unlike degrading advertising that does just the opposite. But consider how that same principle could apply to this movement.
Porn is an emotionally charged, sometimes controversial, and always personal issue. That’s a fact. If we’re not careful, how we talk about porn’s harms can turn people off to learning, preventing them from truly listening to important facts vital for their health and happiness in today’s porn-influenced world.
Tips for sending the correct message when talking about porn’s harms
Here are a few basic guidelines for how not to sound like a jerk—consequently unintentionally driving people away—when talking about the harms of porn, but rather, inviting them to consider before consuming and spark positive change and constructive dialogue.
Get informed, and get comfortable with that info.
It’s tricky to talk about the harmful effects of pornography in a healthy way without knowing the facts yourself. Find out what the research says and what it doesn’t say. There are mountains of resources at your fingertips, so get to learning!
This well of information will help you know what pieces to share when addressing an individual person’s unique questions or concerns.
Have empathy for porn consumers (even if they don’t think consuming is unhealthy).
Those consuming porn likely fall into one of two categories: they either want to stop but aren’t sure how, or they don’t care to stop due to a lack of understanding about how porn is harmful.
Whatever their unique circumstance, empathy shouldn’t be contingent upon how we perceive their desire to change, or lack thereof. We know the harms of porn, and we genuinely feel for those who are consuming—whether they understand the impact their habit has or not.
Replace judgment with empathy and allow yourself to connect with the consumer as a real person. Because, after all, they are a real person.
Acknowledge common ground.
On what points do you agree? That minors shouldn’t be looking at porn, or that sex trafficking isn’t acceptable? There’s always common ground on which to build a conversation. What angle are they approaching the issue from?
You never really understand a person until you consider things from their perspective. What context do they come from? What’s their story with porn, leading up to this moment? This conversation is only a snapshot look into this person’s life, who’s likely more similar to you than different.
While it may not be possible to know what life is really like for someone in every aspect, we can try. This shift in perspective can help us see those who struggle in a more healthy, genuine way.
Where can you connect on a similar level with them, and let them know you’re talking to them as an equal, and someone deserving of compassion?
Remember that everyone is impacted by porn in some way.
Even if you’re not impacted by porn in the same way someone is, there’s no doubt that it has impacted your life in one way or another. So from that standpoint, we’re all on a level playing field.
Take some time to consider the impact porn has had on your own life or in the lives of those you care about. Rather than turning on each other, we should unite to fight the common enemy—the porn industry and the harm it brings to individuals, relationships, and society as a whole.
Remember, it’s possible to be kind and persuasive.
Sharing your point of view doesn’t have to lead to a heated argument, and being loving to someone doesn’t have to be conditional on an agreement. Kindness has a way of drawing people in and helping them actually think about and internalize what you’re saying.
Aggression causes people to automatically go into defense mode, preventing them from processing what you’re saying and, instead, keeping their guard up.
Be very clear in letting the person know you don’t judge them or see them differently if you disagree, but that you care about their health and happiness. Be bold in sharing the facts you’ve learned but create a space where they feel okay to be vulnerable and listen—not a battle zone.
Remember to stick to the science.
While opinions do matter, the fact is that everyone has one, and they’re usually wildly different. Using opinion as the focal point in a discussion about porn’s harms can be unproductive. Science heavily shows how porn is harmful, so use it. Research has the ability to cut through opinions and point to something more solid and universally agreed upon. So, speak to it. Share it.
This movement is a global movement with diverse Fighters who come from all walks of life because we can unite on facts that can’t be disputed or dismissed based on subjective opinion.
Aside from not sounding like a jerk, it’s equally important to genuinely not be one at all.
All of these tips can help you sound knowledgeable, yet respectful and kind. But let’s take it back to something that’s even more important: your motives.
Why are you out to talk about porn? Is it to prove everybody else wrong, while you show everyone how right you are?
Or is it to give individuals the unique chance to hear information that they might not hear otherwise in our porn-obsessed society, regardless of if they agree with you or not?
While it may take some time to change the way you perceive those who struggle with porn or see things differently than you do, keep working at it. In short, don’t just act like a kind human, try your best to be a kind human to everyone, not contingent on whether they’re nice to you or agree with you. Treat others like fellow humans, too.
After all, isn’t remembering each of our humanity and why it’s worth fighting for at the core of our message and mission, after all?
Change the world, one conversation at a time
Porn damages and dissolves human connections—so why should the way we share this message do something similar?
When we actually become informed, kind, persuasive Fighters who know the facts and are comfortable talking about the science behind this issue, our sphere of influence grows exponentially.
We’re authoritative on this subject because we know the science, but we’re also inviting because we care about the people we’re talking to. Their health and happiness—not us being “right”—is our ultimate goal.
Join us as we break down barriers that can keep us from connecting on a real level. Become a source others can go to when they have questions or are seeking help. Your influence could be the turning point for someone who needs to hear this message.
Resource tip: Let’s Talk About Porn
We know talking about porn’s harms, and that’s something we’re trying to change as an organization. Check out our comprehensive conversation-aiding resource site, Let’s Talk About Porn.
Here, you’ll be able to find all of the tips you need to successfully navigate a meaningful conversation about porn with your partner, child, sibling, parent, friend, or your neighborhood mail person (aka a stranger).
Let’s get talking about porn! Click here to start your conversation adventure.
Your Support Matters Now More Than Ever
Most kids today are exposed to porn by the age of 12. By the time they’re teenagers, 75% of boys and 70% of girls have already viewed itRobb, M.B., & Mann, S. (2023). Teens and pornography. San Francisco, CA: Common Sense.Copy —often before they’ve had a single healthy conversation about it.
Even more concerning: over half of boys and nearly 40% of girls believe porn is a realistic depiction of sexMartellozzo, E., Monaghan, A., Adler, J. R., Davidson, J., Leyva, R., & Horvath, M. A. H. (2016). “I wasn’t sure it was normal to watch it”: A quantitative and qualitative examination of the impact of online pornography on the values, attitudes, beliefs and behaviours of children and young people. Middlesex University, NSPCC, & Office of the Children’s Commissioner.Copy . And among teens who have seen porn, more than 79% of teens use it to learn how to have sexRobb, M.B., & Mann, S. (2023). Teens and pornography. San Francisco, CA: Common Sense.Copy . That means millions of young people are getting sex ed from violent, degrading content, which becomes their baseline understanding of intimacy. Out of the most popular porn, 33%-88% of videos contain physical aggression and nonconsensual violence-related themesFritz, N., Malic, V., Paul, B., & Zhou, Y. (2020). A descriptive analysis of the types, targets, and relative frequency of aggression in mainstream pornography. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 49(8), 3041-3053. doi:10.1007/s10508-020-01773-0Copy Bridges et al., 2010, “Aggression and Sexual Behavior in Best-Selling Pornography Videos: A Content Analysis,” Violence Against Women.Copy .
From increasing rates of loneliness, depression, and self-doubt, to distorted views of sex, reduced relationship satisfaction, and riskier sexual behavior among teens, porn is impacting individuals, relationships, and society worldwideFight the New Drug. (2024, May). Get the Facts (Series of web articles). Fight the New Drug.Copy .
This is why Fight the New Drug exists—but we can’t do it without you.
Your donation directly fuels the creation of new educational resources, including our awareness-raising videos, podcasts, research-driven articles, engaging school presentations, and digital tools that reach youth where they are: online and in school. It equips individuals, parents, educators, and youth with trustworthy resources to start the conversation.
Will you join us? We’re grateful for whatever you can give—but a recurring donation makes the biggest difference. Every dollar directly supports our vital work, and every individual we reach decreases sexual exploitation. Let’s fight for real love: