A Mixed Methods Investigation of Pornography Consumption, Paraphilias, Fantasies and Their Place on Public Online Platforms

The present study reports two independent investigations examining, respectively, the relationship between pornography consumption and paraphilic interests and sexual fantasies (Study 1), and the content of public commentary directed at apparently young female users on TikTok (Study 2). Study 1 examined how the frequency, duration and self-reported arousal associated with pornography consumption relate to paraphilic interests. A sample of 320 participants completed three validated measures: the Consumption of Pornography Scale–General (COPS-G), the Paraphilia Scale and the Sexual Fantasy Experience Scale (SFES). Spearman’s rho correlations found that greater pornography use and higher arousal were associated with overall paraphilic interest and with interests featuring sexually aggressive undertones. Study 2 used thematic analysis to examine 179 comments posted beneath 53 TikTok videos identified as featuring apparent minors, identifying five themes: (1) Deception, (2) Inappropriate Compliments, (3) Insults, (4) Invitations and Requests for Engagement and (5) Sexualized. Comments regularly referenced the young age or student identity of the creator. The two studies together, suggest that themes prominent in mainstream pornography, including sexual aggression and the sexualisation of youth, are echoed both in some individuals’ internalized interests and in unrelated public online discourse, without this establishing that pornography exposure causes either outcome.