There’s a political push to ban pornography depicting choking. Would this work?
Politicians from the two major parties have suggested adopting laws similar to those in the United Kingdom, but enforcing them would be challenging.
Federal Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek and NSW Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane have expressed support for banning pornography that depicts sexual strangulation. This response comes after the tragic death of a 16-year-old girl in New South Wales, where police are investigating potential links to sexual strangulation. While the idea of such a ban may seem appealing, it raises questions about its effectiveness and potential unintended consequences.
Sexual strangulation, often referred to as choking, involves applying pressure on the neck to restrict airflow or blood flow during sexual activity. Engaging in this behavior can be attributed to various factors, including social pressure, curiosity, the sensation of heightened pleasure, or as part of rough sex. Research indicates that more women than men have experienced being strangled during sex, with a higher percentage of young Australians (over 60%) having witnessed it in pornography.
The United Kingdom has implemented laws regulating extreme pornography, including some forms of sexual strangulation, but the challenge remains to effectively enforce these regulations on the widespread availability of such content online. In Australia, existing protections exist to prevent young people from viewing depictions of sexual strangulation, but their impact may be limited due to high levels of social media usage among young teens.
The UK's Independent Pornography Review, the Bertin Review, recommended criminalizing all forms of strangulation pornography in the UK, with internet platforms held responsible for preventing users from accessing such content. Should Australia adopt similar measures, it would face challenges in enforcement and potential risks to young people, such as targeting them for prosecution or discouraging them from seeking help or information out of fear of repercussions.
Rather than solely focusing on banning pornography, experts recommend promoting informed public health messaging and appropriate sex education to address the complex social issue of sexual strangulation. Additionally, implementing an opt-in model for social media users to have more control over their feeds could help reduce exposure to harmful content.
The Australian government's proposed digital duty of care for tech companies, which would encompass both promoting positive outcomes and identifying and mitigating risks, could be a valuable approach in tackling digital harms.
Written by urgent.news from The Conversation AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
