Most use pornography once a week or more
TORONTO JULY 19th,
2014 – In
a random sampling of public opinion taken by the Forum Poll™ among 1624
Canadians 18 years of age and older, one eighth admit to having purchased or viewed
pornography in the past year (16%), while a further one quarter preferred not
to answer (26%), which may stand as a proxy for admission of use.
Admitted use is characteristic of the youngest (27%), males (26%), the
wealthiest (22%), Atlantic Canada (21%) and BC (20%), Green Party supporters
(23%), those with no religion (23%). Those with children are very slightly more
likely to admit use (18%) than are those with no children in the house (15%).
One third of users view pornography once
a week or more
The plurality of viewers say they view pornography about
once a week or more often (35%). About one tenth claim to use it once a year or
less often (11%). Frequent viewing is common to the youngest males in Atlantic
Canada.
Two thirds view pornography alone
The majority, two thirds of viewers (62%) watch pornography
alone, while about one seventh watch it with another person (14%). One tenth do
both (12%).
Majority watch straight pornography only
More than one half of pornography viewers use straight, or
heterosexual pornography only (men and women only - 56%), whereas about one
fifth watch lesbian pornography only (18%). One tenth claim to watch homosexual
pornography only (8%). Interestingly, few claim to watch more than one category
(5%).
One half believe pornography is harmful
One half of Canadian adults believe pornography is harmful
to society (50%), while more than a third think it is not (36%). One seventh
don't have an opinion (14%). Belief pornography harms society is common to the
oldest (70%), females (63%), lower income groups ($20K to $40K - 60%), in
Ontario (54%), among Conservative voters (56%), among Protestant (62%) and
Evangelical Christians (84%), but not especially Catholics (51%), among
non-Christians (66%) but not among the non-religious (31%), among mothers (56%)
and among those who claim not to have viewed pornography (63%).
One half would favour online pornography
restrictions
Just more than
half our sample of Canadian voters would support a law requiring internet
service providers (ISPs) to restrict access to pornography online, so that only
adults who "opted in" could view it (52%). One third oppose this idea
(34%) and one seventh has no opinion (14%). Opposition to this idea is
characteristic of the youngest (46%), males (48%), the wealthiest (44%), in BC
(40%) but not in Alberta (28%), among Green Party voters (43%), the best
educated (post grad - 40%), those who are not religious (48%) and those who
have viewed pornography in the past year (71%) and think it is not harmful to society
(59%).
"We pride ourselves as
Canadians on our open-mindedness, but even with the anonymity guaranteed by the
IVR survey method, it would appear there is substantial under-reporting of
pornography use. While uncommon among females, certainly, it must be assumed
that more than one quarter of Canadian males have encountered pornography in
the past year. What is interesting though, is what those who claim to use
pornography tell us about how they use it. Relatively frequently, so not a
novelty item. Mostly alone, so probably not a sex aid, and always (or almost
always) the same kind, so not a smorgasbord. Moreover, those who claim to use
pornography resent any attempt by the state to interfere with their access. To
users, this is an area where personal liberty trumps the concerns of the state," said Forum Research President, Dr.
Lorne Bozinoff.
Lorne Bozinoff,
Ph.D. is the president and founder of Forum Research. He can be reached at lbozinoff@forumresearch.com or at (416)
960-9603.
