Pornography on the net: same attraction, but new options

Abstract

Abstract Sex has come to stay on the Internet and will expand further as more people search for pornography and sexual topics that fulfill their erotic interests and needs. The young have ample opportunities to explore their sexuality through the media, either alone or together with other youths around the world. The youths who suspect or discover they are homosexual, bisexual, or have other specific sexual fantasies and urges can explore in a safe way their curiosities and sexualities, which may lead to easier self-accepting processes. Sometimes partners choose to look at pornography together but for those who keep their sexual interests hidden from their partners in fear of discomfort or disapproval the Internet offers options to fulfill their visual needs. Questions have been raised whether pornography on the Internet changes people's sexual orientation or if the net is rather a way to reach stimulation for existing sexual preferences. Another question is whether the viewing of pornography with various sexual content, e.g. sadistic content will trigger unlawful and harmful behavior outside the Internet. The Internet is a valuable source for sex research as a rich variety of human sexual behavior is represented there. Sexual minorities are not minorities any longer on the Internet. Hidden populations such as foot fetishists, individuals interested in sexual bondage, and individuals attracted to amputees openly discuss their sexual taste and are thus accessible to sex researchers.