The influence of sexually explicit online media on sex: do men who have sex with men believe they “do what they see”?

Abstract

Over the past two decades, men who have sex with men (MSM) have engaged in increasing consumption of MSM-specific sexually explicit online media (i.e., online pornography). Furthermore, the amount of MSM-specific sexually explicit online media portraying unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) has increased, raising concerns about HIV transmission among the actors and the potential encouragement of risky sex among consumers. The influence of sexually explicit online media on sexual risk-taking, at present largely understudied, could lead to new avenues for innovative HIV-prevention strategies targeting at-risk MSM. In this preliminary assessment, in-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with 16 MSM in the Seattle area to elucidate MSM's perceptions about the influence of sexually explicit online media on their own and other MSM's sexual behaviors. Participants reported that sexually explicit online media: (1) plays an educational role, (2) increases comfort with sexuality, and (3) sets expectations about sexual behaviors. While participants overwhelmingly reported not feeling personally influenced by viewing UAI in sexually explicit online media, they believed viewing UAI increased sexual risk-taking among other MSM. Specifically, participants reported that the high prevalence of UAI in sexually explicit online media sends the message, at least to other MSM, that (1) engaging in UAI is common, (2) UAI is acceptable and “ok” to engage in, and (3) future partners will desire or expect UAI. Overall, this preliminary assessment indicates that sexually explicit online media exposure may have both positive (e.g., helping MSM become more comfortable with their sexuality) and negative (e.g., normalizing UAI) impacts on the sexual health of MSM and may be useful in the development of novel HIV-prevention interventions.

Keywords:

• HIV
• men who have sex with men (MSM)
• sexually explicit online media
• pornography
• sexual risk-taking

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank our participants, as well as Diane Morrison, William George, and Stephen Hawes for their support and help with this project. The content of this publication is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health or other sources of support.

Funding

Research reported in this publication was supported by NIMH of the National Institutes of Health under award numbers [F31MH088851] and [K24MH093243]. Additional support was provided by the University of Washington Department of Psychology, the American Psychological Association of Graduate Students, and the University of Washington Center for AIDS Research (CFAR), an NIH-funded program [P30AI27757] which is supported by the following NIH Institutes and Centers (NIAID, NCI, NIMH, NIDA, NICHD, NHLBI, NIA).

Additional information

Funding

Funding: Research reported in this publication was supported by NIMH of the National Institutes of Health under award numbers [F31MH088851] and [K24MH093243]. Additional support was provided by the University of Washington Department of Psychology, the American Psychological Association of Graduate Students, and the University of Washington Center for AIDS Research (CFAR), an NIH-funded program [P30AI27757] which is supported by the following NIH Institutes and Centers (NIAID, NCI, NIMH, NIDA, NICHD, NHLBI, NIA).