Should porn be banned?

While there have been multiple pleas to the courts and government to ban pornographic websites in India, this time, a woman has petitioned the Supreme Court to ban all such websites, since her husband’s addiction to them has ruined her marriage. The Mumbai-based social worker blamed the easily available material for the breakdown of her marriage, even stating that if an educated, grown up man like him could get addicted, it could have an adverse effect on youngsters too. She also claimed that pornographic websites were causing “immense damage to family values in India.” Back in 2016, however, the government had reiterated to the SC that while it can’t control all pornography, it will be cracking down on child pornography. We ask lawmakers, social workers and prominent members of the society if a blanket ban on porn in India can be legal and if it is a good move at all.

‘Watching porn has nothing to do with values’
Dheeraj Dhoopar, actor
I don’t think a ban on porn should be legalised because India is a free nation. To watch porn or not, should be a matter of personal choice just like smoking/drinking/dating/marrying, etc. The ban can’t be forced. If a marriage has to work it will work no matter what. Watching porn has nothing to do with family values, I feel if we use it positively it can bring about sex awareness and education among the youth. Correct family value is to teach the child where to draw the line. However, I do feel that child and animal porn should be banned.

‘Do not to recreate it in real life’
Zaileshia, clinical psychologist
I doubt if a complete ban of porn sites can lead to a drastic change in people’s attitude towards sex, because, hunger, thirst, sleep and sex and basically biological drives. The only difference here is that the pattern of sexuality is learnt. Moreover, there are plenty of unmarried men and women who log into such sites for self-satisfaction. But the important point to take care here is that people should restrain themselves from spending too much time on such sites and also be prepared to detach from it. On the other hand whenever something is banned, whichever part of the world it is, there will be a tendency to double the consumption. It should also be understood that pornographic sites are basically products and when it comes to selling products, unrealistic, fantasy elements are a part of it. So it is advisable not to recreate it in real life.

‘It’s a very superficial thought’
Rangaraj Bhattacharya, social activist
A blanket ban on pornography is not a solution. It’s a very superficial thought. The control on the content and the source needs to be in place. This is because we have seen cases of private videos leaked even on YouTube and social media platforms as well. It’s about time we focus on offering feasible ideas, keeping a long-term vision in mind.  

‘Such websites should be banned’
Roja, former actress, TV show host and MLA
I have seen cases where many lives have been ruined because of porn addiction. Married men either ignore their wives completely because they are so engrossed in this, or they begin asking their wives to dress up like the porn stars and imitate them in bed. When the CBFC and people in general object to the content of advertisements and films that mislead the audience, why isn’t anything being done about such websites that are readily available and that are contaminating our culture?

I think pornographic websites must be banned completely and if the government takes initiative, it can definitely be done. Nobody thought that something like demonetisation would happen, even in their dreams, but it happened, to fight black money. Similarly, to fight this evil, such websites should be banned.

‘The addiction only comes later’
V Iswarya,  drama researcher
No type of bans work in my opinion since the person who wants to defy the law will do it one way or another. If the sites are banned, someone will watch through some illicit ways. We should first realise why the people start watching porn. It is basically because of curiosity. The addiction only comes later.

If they are given proper sex education, it could be prevented. The proper sex education will channel their curiosity in the right way, which would prevent them from venturing towards pornography.

‘I don’t support watching porn’
Saumya tandon, Actress
India is a closed society, and pornography has become so easily available nowadays. I personally don’t advocate or support watching pornography because I do feel it can have an adverse effect on the way men would perceive sex, women and they could have unrealistic expectations from their women. Having said that, one cannot completely stop it because it will invite more trouble. I strongly oppose child pornography and unnatural sex and I do believe that kids should not be allowed to have access to it before a certain age.