#mediaconsumption — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #mediaconsumption, aggregated by home.social.
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DATE: July 15, 2026 at 07:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Short-video viewing temporarily shuts down cognitive control networks, study finds
Watching preferred short videos may temporarily quiet brain regions involved in self-control and monitoring, and this effect could be linked to levels of the brain chemical glutamate. This research was published in NeuroImage.
Short-video platforms are built around quick, engaging clips that users can continue or skip within seconds. These platforms can be entertaining and harmless for many people, but researchers have become increasingly interested in why some users find them difficult to stop using. One possible explanation is that immersive, pleasurable viewing may reduce the need for active monitoring and self-control.
The new study focused on two brain regions: the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. The dorsal anterior cingulate cortex helps detect conflict, monitor behavior, and decide when more mental effort is needed. The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is involved in applying control, such as staying focused or resisting distraction. Together, these areas help people regulate behavior in situations where attention and self-control are required.
The researchers also examined two brain chemicals. Glutamate is the brain’s main excitatory neurotransmitter, meaning it helps increase neural activity. Gamma-aminobutyric acid, or GABA, is the brain’s main inhibitory neurotransmitter, meaning it helps reduce or regulate neural activity. The team wanted to know whether these chemicals, measured at rest, could help explain why people differ in how strongly their cognitive control network responds during short-video viewing.
Led by Tiantian Hong of Zhejiang University in China, the researchers recruited 66 young adults. After excluding participants because of excessive head movement or poor-quality brain chemistry scans, the final sample included 56 people with an average age of about 23 years. The sample included 19 females.
Participants first underwent proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy, a brain imaging technique used to estimate glutamate and GABA concentrations in the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex. They then completed a short-video viewing task during functional magnetic resonance imaging, which measures changes in brain activity. Participants watched two six-minute blocks of videos and could press a button to skip to the next video whenever they wanted. Videos watched to the end were treated as “liked,” while videos skipped before halfway were treated as “disliked.”
The main finding was that liked videos were associated with significant deactivation in both cognitive control regions. In other words, when participants watched videos that they allowed to continue, activity in the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex fell below baseline.
Disliked videos demonstrated a different pattern. During these videos, activity in the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex did not significantly differ from baseline, while the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex was still suppressed. The visual cortex, which processes visual information, was active during both liked and disliked videos, suggesting the results were not simply because participants were looking at a screen.
Hong and colleagues also found that people with higher resting glutamate in the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex showed less suppression of both cognitive control regions during video viewing. GABA was not significantly associated with activity in these regions. The authors concluded that immersive viewing of preferred short videos deactivates the cognitive control network, and individual differences in this deactivation are linked to glutamate metabolism.
Interestingly, connectivity between the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex increased during short-video viewing, especially for liked videos. The authors caution that this does not necessarily mean stronger self-control. Instead, they suggest the two regions may be jointly downregulated during preferred viewing, producing a more coordinated pattern of reduced activity.
Some limitations are to be noted. For example, the study did not assess short-video addiction or compulsive use in detail, and “liked” videos were defined by whether participants kept watching rather than by explicit post-viewing ratings. In addition, the study only recruited young adults with a predominantly male makeup, which limits the generalizability of the findings.
The study, “Brain activity inhibition during Short Video Viewing: neurochemical insights,” was authored by Tiantian Hong, Conghui Su, Hui Zhou, Fengji Geng, and Yuzheng Hu.
-------------------------------------------------
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #ShortVideoViewing #CognitiveControl #DorsolateralPrefrontalCortex #DACC #Glutamate #GABA #NeuroImage #BrainChemistry #MediaConsumption #SelfControl
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DATE: July 15, 2026 at 07:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Short-video viewing temporarily shuts down cognitive control networks, study finds
Watching preferred short videos may temporarily quiet brain regions involved in self-control and monitoring, and this effect could be linked to levels of the brain chemical glutamate. This research was published in NeuroImage.
Short-video platforms are built around quick, engaging clips that users can continue or skip within seconds. These platforms can be entertaining and harmless for many people, but researchers have become increasingly interested in why some users find them difficult to stop using. One possible explanation is that immersive, pleasurable viewing may reduce the need for active monitoring and self-control.
The new study focused on two brain regions: the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. The dorsal anterior cingulate cortex helps detect conflict, monitor behavior, and decide when more mental effort is needed. The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is involved in applying control, such as staying focused or resisting distraction. Together, these areas help people regulate behavior in situations where attention and self-control are required.
The researchers also examined two brain chemicals. Glutamate is the brain’s main excitatory neurotransmitter, meaning it helps increase neural activity. Gamma-aminobutyric acid, or GABA, is the brain’s main inhibitory neurotransmitter, meaning it helps reduce or regulate neural activity. The team wanted to know whether these chemicals, measured at rest, could help explain why people differ in how strongly their cognitive control network responds during short-video viewing.
Led by Tiantian Hong of Zhejiang University in China, the researchers recruited 66 young adults. After excluding participants because of excessive head movement or poor-quality brain chemistry scans, the final sample included 56 people with an average age of about 23 years. The sample included 19 females.
Participants first underwent proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy, a brain imaging technique used to estimate glutamate and GABA concentrations in the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex. They then completed a short-video viewing task during functional magnetic resonance imaging, which measures changes in brain activity. Participants watched two six-minute blocks of videos and could press a button to skip to the next video whenever they wanted. Videos watched to the end were treated as “liked,” while videos skipped before halfway were treated as “disliked.”
The main finding was that liked videos were associated with significant deactivation in both cognitive control regions. In other words, when participants watched videos that they allowed to continue, activity in the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex fell below baseline.
Disliked videos demonstrated a different pattern. During these videos, activity in the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex did not significantly differ from baseline, while the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex was still suppressed. The visual cortex, which processes visual information, was active during both liked and disliked videos, suggesting the results were not simply because participants were looking at a screen.
Hong and colleagues also found that people with higher resting glutamate in the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex showed less suppression of both cognitive control regions during video viewing. GABA was not significantly associated with activity in these regions. The authors concluded that immersive viewing of preferred short videos deactivates the cognitive control network, and individual differences in this deactivation are linked to glutamate metabolism.
Interestingly, connectivity between the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex increased during short-video viewing, especially for liked videos. The authors caution that this does not necessarily mean stronger self-control. Instead, they suggest the two regions may be jointly downregulated during preferred viewing, producing a more coordinated pattern of reduced activity.
Some limitations are to be noted. For example, the study did not assess short-video addiction or compulsive use in detail, and “liked” videos were defined by whether participants kept watching rather than by explicit post-viewing ratings. In addition, the study only recruited young adults with a predominantly male makeup, which limits the generalizability of the findings.
The study, “Brain activity inhibition during Short Video Viewing: neurochemical insights,” was authored by Tiantian Hong, Conghui Su, Hui Zhou, Fengji Geng, and Yuzheng Hu.
-------------------------------------------------
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #ShortVideoViewing #CognitiveControl #DorsolateralPrefrontalCortex #DACC #Glutamate #GABA #NeuroImage #BrainChemistry #MediaConsumption #SelfControl
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DATE: July 15, 2026 at 07:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Short-video viewing temporarily shuts down cognitive control networks, study finds
Watching preferred short videos may temporarily quiet brain regions involved in self-control and monitoring, and this effect could be linked to levels of the brain chemical glutamate. This research was published in NeuroImage.
Short-video platforms are built around quick, engaging clips that users can continue or skip within seconds. These platforms can be entertaining and harmless for many people, but researchers have become increasingly interested in why some users find them difficult to stop using. One possible explanation is that immersive, pleasurable viewing may reduce the need for active monitoring and self-control.
The new study focused on two brain regions: the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. The dorsal anterior cingulate cortex helps detect conflict, monitor behavior, and decide when more mental effort is needed. The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is involved in applying control, such as staying focused or resisting distraction. Together, these areas help people regulate behavior in situations where attention and self-control are required.
The researchers also examined two brain chemicals. Glutamate is the brain’s main excitatory neurotransmitter, meaning it helps increase neural activity. Gamma-aminobutyric acid, or GABA, is the brain’s main inhibitory neurotransmitter, meaning it helps reduce or regulate neural activity. The team wanted to know whether these chemicals, measured at rest, could help explain why people differ in how strongly their cognitive control network responds during short-video viewing.
Led by Tiantian Hong of Zhejiang University in China, the researchers recruited 66 young adults. After excluding participants because of excessive head movement or poor-quality brain chemistry scans, the final sample included 56 people with an average age of about 23 years. The sample included 19 females.
Participants first underwent proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy, a brain imaging technique used to estimate glutamate and GABA concentrations in the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex. They then completed a short-video viewing task during functional magnetic resonance imaging, which measures changes in brain activity. Participants watched two six-minute blocks of videos and could press a button to skip to the next video whenever they wanted. Videos watched to the end were treated as “liked,” while videos skipped before halfway were treated as “disliked.”
The main finding was that liked videos were associated with significant deactivation in both cognitive control regions. In other words, when participants watched videos that they allowed to continue, activity in the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex fell below baseline.
Disliked videos demonstrated a different pattern. During these videos, activity in the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex did not significantly differ from baseline, while the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex was still suppressed. The visual cortex, which processes visual information, was active during both liked and disliked videos, suggesting the results were not simply because participants were looking at a screen.
Hong and colleagues also found that people with higher resting glutamate in the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex showed less suppression of both cognitive control regions during video viewing. GABA was not significantly associated with activity in these regions. The authors concluded that immersive viewing of preferred short videos deactivates the cognitive control network, and individual differences in this deactivation are linked to glutamate metabolism.
Interestingly, connectivity between the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex increased during short-video viewing, especially for liked videos. The authors caution that this does not necessarily mean stronger self-control. Instead, they suggest the two regions may be jointly downregulated during preferred viewing, producing a more coordinated pattern of reduced activity.
Some limitations are to be noted. For example, the study did not assess short-video addiction or compulsive use in detail, and “liked” videos were defined by whether participants kept watching rather than by explicit post-viewing ratings. In addition, the study only recruited young adults with a predominantly male makeup, which limits the generalizability of the findings.
The study, “Brain activity inhibition during Short Video Viewing: neurochemical insights,” was authored by Tiantian Hong, Conghui Su, Hui Zhou, Fengji Geng, and Yuzheng Hu.
-------------------------------------------------
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #ShortVideoViewing #CognitiveControl #DorsolateralPrefrontalCortex #DACC #Glutamate #GABA #NeuroImage #BrainChemistry #MediaConsumption #SelfControl
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DATE: July 9, 2026 at 09:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Men who consume pornography report lower sexual satisfaction than female viewers
Adult men who consume pornography report worse sexual function and lower overall satisfaction in their intimate lives when compared to women who view similar material. These findings, based on a broad synthesis of existing research, were recently published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine. The data highlights a paradox perfectly, showing that higher engagement with explicit media among men is correlated with poorer sexual health outcomes.
Erotic depictions have existed since ancient times across various civilizations. The integration of technology into daily life, specifically smartphones and high-speed internet, has made explicit material more accessible than ever before. This rapid rise in accessibility has sparked ongoing public debates about the societal implications and potential harms of adult content.
Much of the current narrative frames pornography consumption as a public health issue. Critics often point to potential negative outcomes, such as the objectification of partners, damage to romantic intimacy, and the creation of unrealistic physical expectations. At the same time, some public health advocates argue there are positive aspects for certain users, such as improved communication between partners and increased sexual experimentation.
Past studies examining the health effects of explicit media have yielded highly inconsistent results. Some smaller investigations have suggested that women often report positive links between their media habits and their sexual functioning. Men, on the other hand, frequently exhibit vastly different and often contradictory outcomes in similar survey data.
To clarify these disparities, researchers Shahla Shafaati Laleh of Urmia Islamic Azad University and Aysu Yıldız Karaahmet of Biruni University conducted a massive review of the existing scientific literature. They wanted to evaluate specific gender differences in media use and its connection to sexual function, overall satisfaction, and psychological well-being during partnered sex.
The researchers utilized a statistical technique called a meta-analysis, which combines data from many independent studies to identify broader, underlying trends. They gathered data from 21 separate observational studies published up to January 2025. This combined effort resulted in a large sample size of 138,192 adult participants from countries across North America, Europe, and Asia.
To ensure the reliability of their analysis, the team only included research that utilized validated psychological questionnaires. These standardized surveys asked participants to rate their levels of desire, physical arousal, ability to reach orgasm, and general satisfaction. The team then computed the average differences between the male and female responses across the entire dataset.
The most prominent pattern to emerge involved the differing levels of media consumption and the resulting sexual health reports. The researchers found a robust gender gap regarding solitary sexual behavior. Men reported consuming explicit media and engaging in masturbation at much higher rates than women did.
Despite their higher consumption rates, men reported consistently lower sexual function scores than female users. Men also reported worse levels of general sexual satisfaction in their intimate relationships. The compiled scores indicated a higher prevalence of sexual dysfunction among male users compared to the female participants.
Conversely, the female participants reported better sexual health outcomes relating to their media habits. Women in the studies generally consumed less pornography overall. Yet, those who did view the material reported better sexual functioning and fewer sexual dysfunctions in their personal lives than the male users.
The research team suggests these results might relate to the concept of “sexual scripts,” which are internal cognitive frameworks that guide a person’s expectations of intimacy. Through their viewing habits, women might be expanding their sexual scripts and learning new behaviors to incorporate into their partnered sex lives. In contrast, men who frequently view explicit material might develop strict preferences for highly specific onscreen scenarios.
This heavy reliance on explicit media can alter a male user’s baseline for sexual excitement. The researchers noted that some men begin to rely on the material to spark arousal, leading to dissatisfaction when real-life encounters do not match their digital expectations. This divergence between expectation and reality often leads to friction within intimate relationships.
The specific themes of the consumed media also appear to play a heavy role in these outcomes. Data from one included study found that viewing passion and romance-themed material was linked to higher overall satisfaction. On the other hand, media focused on power, control, or rough behavior was linked to lower satisfaction and impaired sexual function, particularly among male viewers.
The researchers also evaluated psychological health metrics alongside the physical functioning data. They found a trend indicating that women experienced slightly higher levels of psychological distress related to their pornography consumption than men did. These emotional vulnerabilities could stem from societal stigma or personal shame.
Researchers often attribute this psychological strain to a concept known as moral incongruence. This terminology refers to the internal conflict a person experiences when their actual behavior does not align with their deeply held personal or religious values. When individuals experience high moral conflict regarding their viewing habits, they often report elevated levels of anxiety and distress entirely separate from their physical health.
While the meta-analysis provides a broad look at these dynamics, the authors acknowledged several methodological limitations. The reviewed studies relied almost entirely on self-reported questionnaires. Human participants are prone to memory errors and might not answer sensitive questions truthfully due to embarrassment.
Another limitation involves the cross-sectional design of the included research. A cross-sectional study captures a single snapshot in time rather than tracking a specific group of people over decades. Because of this, the researchers cannot state that pornography causes sexual dysfunction, as it is just as likely that individuals experiencing sexual difficulties simply are seeking out more explicit media as a coping mechanism.
The analysis also faced issues with study heterogeneity, meaning the 21 independent studies used vastly different standards to define what constitutes active usage. Some original authors measured daily viewing minutes, while others simply asked if participants had viewed any explicit material within the last year. These varying definitions make it difficult to establish a universal baseline for average consumption.
Future investigations will need to track participants over long periods to properly map the timeline of shifting sexual habits. The authors recommended that health professionals take a highly individualized approach when discussing media habits with patients. Standardized treatment plans might miss the nuanced reality of how these habits affect men and women in vastly different ways.
The study, “Gender differences in pornography use and sexual health outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis,” was authored by Shahla Shafaati Laleh and Aysu Yıldız Karaahmet.
-------------------------------------------------
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #PornographyAndSexualHealth #GenderDifferences #SexualSatisfaction #MediaConsumption #SexualScripts #MalevsFemalePornUse #PsychologicalWellBeing #SexualFunction #PublicHealthDebate #MetaAnalysisResearch
-
DATE: July 9, 2026 at 09:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Men who consume pornography report lower sexual satisfaction than female viewers
Adult men who consume pornography report worse sexual function and lower overall satisfaction in their intimate lives when compared to women who view similar material. These findings, based on a broad synthesis of existing research, were recently published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine. The data highlights a paradox perfectly, showing that higher engagement with explicit media among men is correlated with poorer sexual health outcomes.
Erotic depictions have existed since ancient times across various civilizations. The integration of technology into daily life, specifically smartphones and high-speed internet, has made explicit material more accessible than ever before. This rapid rise in accessibility has sparked ongoing public debates about the societal implications and potential harms of adult content.
Much of the current narrative frames pornography consumption as a public health issue. Critics often point to potential negative outcomes, such as the objectification of partners, damage to romantic intimacy, and the creation of unrealistic physical expectations. At the same time, some public health advocates argue there are positive aspects for certain users, such as improved communication between partners and increased sexual experimentation.
Past studies examining the health effects of explicit media have yielded highly inconsistent results. Some smaller investigations have suggested that women often report positive links between their media habits and their sexual functioning. Men, on the other hand, frequently exhibit vastly different and often contradictory outcomes in similar survey data.
To clarify these disparities, researchers Shahla Shafaati Laleh of Urmia Islamic Azad University and Aysu Yıldız Karaahmet of Biruni University conducted a massive review of the existing scientific literature. They wanted to evaluate specific gender differences in media use and its connection to sexual function, overall satisfaction, and psychological well-being during partnered sex.
The researchers utilized a statistical technique called a meta-analysis, which combines data from many independent studies to identify broader, underlying trends. They gathered data from 21 separate observational studies published up to January 2025. This combined effort resulted in a large sample size of 138,192 adult participants from countries across North America, Europe, and Asia.
To ensure the reliability of their analysis, the team only included research that utilized validated psychological questionnaires. These standardized surveys asked participants to rate their levels of desire, physical arousal, ability to reach orgasm, and general satisfaction. The team then computed the average differences between the male and female responses across the entire dataset.
The most prominent pattern to emerge involved the differing levels of media consumption and the resulting sexual health reports. The researchers found a robust gender gap regarding solitary sexual behavior. Men reported consuming explicit media and engaging in masturbation at much higher rates than women did.
Despite their higher consumption rates, men reported consistently lower sexual function scores than female users. Men also reported worse levels of general sexual satisfaction in their intimate relationships. The compiled scores indicated a higher prevalence of sexual dysfunction among male users compared to the female participants.
Conversely, the female participants reported better sexual health outcomes relating to their media habits. Women in the studies generally consumed less pornography overall. Yet, those who did view the material reported better sexual functioning and fewer sexual dysfunctions in their personal lives than the male users.
The research team suggests these results might relate to the concept of “sexual scripts,” which are internal cognitive frameworks that guide a person’s expectations of intimacy. Through their viewing habits, women might be expanding their sexual scripts and learning new behaviors to incorporate into their partnered sex lives. In contrast, men who frequently view explicit material might develop strict preferences for highly specific onscreen scenarios.
This heavy reliance on explicit media can alter a male user’s baseline for sexual excitement. The researchers noted that some men begin to rely on the material to spark arousal, leading to dissatisfaction when real-life encounters do not match their digital expectations. This divergence between expectation and reality often leads to friction within intimate relationships.
The specific themes of the consumed media also appear to play a heavy role in these outcomes. Data from one included study found that viewing passion and romance-themed material was linked to higher overall satisfaction. On the other hand, media focused on power, control, or rough behavior was linked to lower satisfaction and impaired sexual function, particularly among male viewers.
The researchers also evaluated psychological health metrics alongside the physical functioning data. They found a trend indicating that women experienced slightly higher levels of psychological distress related to their pornography consumption than men did. These emotional vulnerabilities could stem from societal stigma or personal shame.
Researchers often attribute this psychological strain to a concept known as moral incongruence. This terminology refers to the internal conflict a person experiences when their actual behavior does not align with their deeply held personal or religious values. When individuals experience high moral conflict regarding their viewing habits, they often report elevated levels of anxiety and distress entirely separate from their physical health.
While the meta-analysis provides a broad look at these dynamics, the authors acknowledged several methodological limitations. The reviewed studies relied almost entirely on self-reported questionnaires. Human participants are prone to memory errors and might not answer sensitive questions truthfully due to embarrassment.
Another limitation involves the cross-sectional design of the included research. A cross-sectional study captures a single snapshot in time rather than tracking a specific group of people over decades. Because of this, the researchers cannot state that pornography causes sexual dysfunction, as it is just as likely that individuals experiencing sexual difficulties simply are seeking out more explicit media as a coping mechanism.
The analysis also faced issues with study heterogeneity, meaning the 21 independent studies used vastly different standards to define what constitutes active usage. Some original authors measured daily viewing minutes, while others simply asked if participants had viewed any explicit material within the last year. These varying definitions make it difficult to establish a universal baseline for average consumption.
Future investigations will need to track participants over long periods to properly map the timeline of shifting sexual habits. The authors recommended that health professionals take a highly individualized approach when discussing media habits with patients. Standardized treatment plans might miss the nuanced reality of how these habits affect men and women in vastly different ways.
The study, “Gender differences in pornography use and sexual health outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis,” was authored by Shahla Shafaati Laleh and Aysu Yıldız Karaahmet.
-------------------------------------------------
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #PornographyAndSexualHealth #GenderDifferences #SexualSatisfaction #MediaConsumption #SexualScripts #MalevsFemalePornUse #PsychologicalWellBeing #SexualFunction #PublicHealthDebate #MetaAnalysisResearch
-
DATE: July 9, 2026 at 09:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Men who consume pornography report lower sexual satisfaction than female viewers
Adult men who consume pornography report worse sexual function and lower overall satisfaction in their intimate lives when compared to women who view similar material. These findings, based on a broad synthesis of existing research, were recently published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine. The data highlights a paradox perfectly, showing that higher engagement with explicit media among men is correlated with poorer sexual health outcomes.
Erotic depictions have existed since ancient times across various civilizations. The integration of technology into daily life, specifically smartphones and high-speed internet, has made explicit material more accessible than ever before. This rapid rise in accessibility has sparked ongoing public debates about the societal implications and potential harms of adult content.
Much of the current narrative frames pornography consumption as a public health issue. Critics often point to potential negative outcomes, such as the objectification of partners, damage to romantic intimacy, and the creation of unrealistic physical expectations. At the same time, some public health advocates argue there are positive aspects for certain users, such as improved communication between partners and increased sexual experimentation.
Past studies examining the health effects of explicit media have yielded highly inconsistent results. Some smaller investigations have suggested that women often report positive links between their media habits and their sexual functioning. Men, on the other hand, frequently exhibit vastly different and often contradictory outcomes in similar survey data.
To clarify these disparities, researchers Shahla Shafaati Laleh of Urmia Islamic Azad University and Aysu Yıldız Karaahmet of Biruni University conducted a massive review of the existing scientific literature. They wanted to evaluate specific gender differences in media use and its connection to sexual function, overall satisfaction, and psychological well-being during partnered sex.
The researchers utilized a statistical technique called a meta-analysis, which combines data from many independent studies to identify broader, underlying trends. They gathered data from 21 separate observational studies published up to January 2025. This combined effort resulted in a large sample size of 138,192 adult participants from countries across North America, Europe, and Asia.
To ensure the reliability of their analysis, the team only included research that utilized validated psychological questionnaires. These standardized surveys asked participants to rate their levels of desire, physical arousal, ability to reach orgasm, and general satisfaction. The team then computed the average differences between the male and female responses across the entire dataset.
The most prominent pattern to emerge involved the differing levels of media consumption and the resulting sexual health reports. The researchers found a robust gender gap regarding solitary sexual behavior. Men reported consuming explicit media and engaging in masturbation at much higher rates than women did.
Despite their higher consumption rates, men reported consistently lower sexual function scores than female users. Men also reported worse levels of general sexual satisfaction in their intimate relationships. The compiled scores indicated a higher prevalence of sexual dysfunction among male users compared to the female participants.
Conversely, the female participants reported better sexual health outcomes relating to their media habits. Women in the studies generally consumed less pornography overall. Yet, those who did view the material reported better sexual functioning and fewer sexual dysfunctions in their personal lives than the male users.
The research team suggests these results might relate to the concept of “sexual scripts,” which are internal cognitive frameworks that guide a person’s expectations of intimacy. Through their viewing habits, women might be expanding their sexual scripts and learning new behaviors to incorporate into their partnered sex lives. In contrast, men who frequently view explicit material might develop strict preferences for highly specific onscreen scenarios.
This heavy reliance on explicit media can alter a male user’s baseline for sexual excitement. The researchers noted that some men begin to rely on the material to spark arousal, leading to dissatisfaction when real-life encounters do not match their digital expectations. This divergence between expectation and reality often leads to friction within intimate relationships.
The specific themes of the consumed media also appear to play a heavy role in these outcomes. Data from one included study found that viewing passion and romance-themed material was linked to higher overall satisfaction. On the other hand, media focused on power, control, or rough behavior was linked to lower satisfaction and impaired sexual function, particularly among male viewers.
The researchers also evaluated psychological health metrics alongside the physical functioning data. They found a trend indicating that women experienced slightly higher levels of psychological distress related to their pornography consumption than men did. These emotional vulnerabilities could stem from societal stigma or personal shame.
Researchers often attribute this psychological strain to a concept known as moral incongruence. This terminology refers to the internal conflict a person experiences when their actual behavior does not align with their deeply held personal or religious values. When individuals experience high moral conflict regarding their viewing habits, they often report elevated levels of anxiety and distress entirely separate from their physical health.
While the meta-analysis provides a broad look at these dynamics, the authors acknowledged several methodological limitations. The reviewed studies relied almost entirely on self-reported questionnaires. Human participants are prone to memory errors and might not answer sensitive questions truthfully due to embarrassment.
Another limitation involves the cross-sectional design of the included research. A cross-sectional study captures a single snapshot in time rather than tracking a specific group of people over decades. Because of this, the researchers cannot state that pornography causes sexual dysfunction, as it is just as likely that individuals experiencing sexual difficulties simply are seeking out more explicit media as a coping mechanism.
The analysis also faced issues with study heterogeneity, meaning the 21 independent studies used vastly different standards to define what constitutes active usage. Some original authors measured daily viewing minutes, while others simply asked if participants had viewed any explicit material within the last year. These varying definitions make it difficult to establish a universal baseline for average consumption.
Future investigations will need to track participants over long periods to properly map the timeline of shifting sexual habits. The authors recommended that health professionals take a highly individualized approach when discussing media habits with patients. Standardized treatment plans might miss the nuanced reality of how these habits affect men and women in vastly different ways.
The study, “Gender differences in pornography use and sexual health outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis,” was authored by Shahla Shafaati Laleh and Aysu Yıldız Karaahmet.
-------------------------------------------------
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #PornographyAndSexualHealth #GenderDifferences #SexualSatisfaction #MediaConsumption #SexualScripts #MalevsFemalePornUse #PsychologicalWellBeing #SexualFunction #PublicHealthDebate #MetaAnalysisResearch
-
Yesterday before dozing off I cranked out something - inspired by the prompt at IndieWeb Nürnberg 2026!
---
The sessions were wonderful as always and it was so great to meet cool folks virtually...!---
#indieweb #indiewebcamp #remote #neocities #mediaconsumption #intentionalliving #slowliving #weekend
-
Yesterday before dozing off I cranked out something - inspired by the prompt at IndieWeb Nürnberg 2026!
---
The sessions were wonderful as always and it was so great to meet cool folks virtually...!---
#indieweb #indiewebcamp #remote #neocities #mediaconsumption #intentionalliving #slowliving #weekend
-
Yesterday before dozing off I cranked out something - inspired by the prompt at IndieWeb Nürnberg 2026!
---
The sessions were wonderful as always and it was so great to meet cool folks virtually...!---
#indieweb #indiewebcamp #remote #neocities #mediaconsumption #intentionalliving #slowliving #weekend
-
Yesterday before dozing off I cranked out something - inspired by the prompt at IndieWeb Nürnberg 2026!
---
The sessions were wonderful as always and it was so great to meet cool folks virtually...!---
#indieweb #indiewebcamp #remote #neocities #mediaconsumption #intentionalliving #slowliving #weekend
-
Yesterday before dozing off I cranked out something - inspired by the prompt at IndieWeb Nürnberg 2026!
---
The sessions were wonderful as always and it was so great to meet cool folks virtually...!---
#indieweb #indiewebcamp #remote #neocities #mediaconsumption #intentionalliving #slowliving #weekend
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ICYMI: News sites are dying - social media and chatbots are eating the audience: Oxford's RISJ 2026 Digital News Report finds social media beats publisher websites in 30 of 48 markets while AI chatbot news use climbs to 10%, up from 7%. https://ppc.land/news-sites-are-dying-social-media-and-chatbots-are-eating-the-audience/ #DigitalNews #SocialMedia #AIChatbots #NewsTrends #MediaConsumption
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ICYMI: News sites are dying - social media and chatbots are eating the audience: Oxford's RISJ 2026 Digital News Report finds social media beats publisher websites in 30 of 48 markets while AI chatbot news use climbs to 10%, up from 7%. https://ppc.land/news-sites-are-dying-social-media-and-chatbots-are-eating-the-audience/ #DigitalNews #SocialMedia #AIChatbots #NewsTrends #MediaConsumption
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ICYMI: News sites are dying - social media and chatbots are eating the audience: Oxford's RISJ 2026 Digital News Report finds social media beats publisher websites in 30 of 48 markets while AI chatbot news use climbs to 10%, up from 7%. https://ppc.land/news-sites-are-dying-social-media-and-chatbots-are-eating-the-audience/ #DigitalNews #SocialMedia #AIChatbots #NewsTrends #MediaConsumption
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ICYMI: News sites are dying - social media and chatbots are eating the audience: Oxford's RISJ 2026 Digital News Report finds social media beats publisher websites in 30 of 48 markets while AI chatbot news use climbs to 10%, up from 7%. https://ppc.land/news-sites-are-dying-social-media-and-chatbots-are-eating-the-audience/ #DigitalNews #SocialMedia #AIChatbots #NewsTrends #MediaConsumption
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ICYMI: News sites are dying - social media and chatbots are eating the audience: Oxford's RISJ 2026 Digital News Report finds social media beats publisher websites in 30 of 48 markets while AI chatbot news use climbs to 10%, up from 7%. https://ppc.land/news-sites-are-dying-social-media-and-chatbots-are-eating-the-audience/ #DigitalNews #SocialMedia #AIChatbots #NewsTrends #MediaConsumption
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BEST MAGAZINE OFFERS UNPACKED AS CONSUMER HABITS SHIFT
BEST Magazine offers 51 weekly digital issues for a year. Find out how this deal reflects changing media habits and what it means for readers.
#BESTMagazine, #DigitalSubscription, #EntertainmentNews, #FashionTrends, #MediaConsumption
https://newsletter.tf/best-magazine-weekly-digital-delivery-subscription/
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BEST Magazine is now offering weekly digital deliveries for 51 issues over one year. This is a new way to get your favourite entertainment and fashion news.
#BESTMagazine, #DigitalSubscription, #EntertainmentNews, #FashionTrends, #MediaConsumption
https://newsletter.tf/best-magazine-weekly-digital-delivery-subscription/ -
ICYMI: Smart TVs overtake computers as Britain's second podcast screen: 45% of UK monthly podcast consumers now watch on smart TVs, Signal Hill finds, with 84% already watching video - far ahead of the US at 62% and Canada at 75%. https://ppc.land/smart-tvs-overtake-computers-as-britains-second-podcast-screen/ #SmartTVs #Podcasting #VideoStreaming #UKPodcast #MediaConsumption
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ICYMI: Smart TVs overtake computers as Britain's second podcast screen: 45% of UK monthly podcast consumers now watch on smart TVs, Signal Hill finds, with 84% already watching video - far ahead of the US at 62% and Canada at 75%. https://ppc.land/smart-tvs-overtake-computers-as-britains-second-podcast-screen/ #SmartTVs #Podcasting #VideoStreaming #UKPodcast #MediaConsumption
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ICYMI: Smart TVs overtake computers as Britain's second podcast screen: 45% of UK monthly podcast consumers now watch on smart TVs, Signal Hill finds, with 84% already watching video - far ahead of the US at 62% and Canada at 75%. https://ppc.land/smart-tvs-overtake-computers-as-britains-second-podcast-screen/ #SmartTVs #Podcasting #VideoStreaming #UKPodcast #MediaConsumption
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ICYMI: 94% of Americans now listen to online audio weekly - what it means for ads: Edison Research data shows 94% of monthly online audio listeners now tune in weekly, up from 57% in 2006, a shift advertisers cannot ignore in budget planning. https://ppc.land/94-of-americans-now-listen-to-online-audio-weekly-what-it-means-for-ads/ #OnlineAudio #DigitalMarketing #AdvertisingTrends #MarketingStrategy #MediaConsumption
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ICYMI: 94% of Americans now listen to online audio weekly - what it means for ads: Edison Research data shows 94% of monthly online audio listeners now tune in weekly, up from 57% in 2006, a shift advertisers cannot ignore in budget planning. https://ppc.land/94-of-americans-now-listen-to-online-audio-weekly-what-it-means-for-ads/ #OnlineAudio #DigitalMarketing #AdvertisingTrends #MarketingStrategy #MediaConsumption
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ICYMI: 94% of Americans now listen to online audio weekly - what it means for ads: Edison Research data shows 94% of monthly online audio listeners now tune in weekly, up from 57% in 2006, a shift advertisers cannot ignore in budget planning. https://ppc.land/94-of-americans-now-listen-to-online-audio-weekly-what-it-means-for-ads/ #OnlineAudio #DigitalMarketing #AdvertisingTrends #MarketingStrategy #MediaConsumption
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ICYMI: 94% of Americans now listen to online audio weekly - what it means for ads: Edison Research data shows 94% of monthly online audio listeners now tune in weekly, up from 57% in 2006, a shift advertisers cannot ignore in budget planning. https://ppc.land/94-of-americans-now-listen-to-online-audio-weekly-what-it-means-for-ads/ #OnlineAudio #DigitalMarketing #AdvertisingTrends #MarketingStrategy #MediaConsumption
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ICYMI: Podstock data: Spotify drives 1.5x more podcast listening time than YouTube: Podstock benchmarks show Spotify podcast streams generate 1.5x more minutes than YouTube views, but discovery spikes push average time spent down across shows. https://ppc.land/podstock-data-spotify-drives-1-5x-more-podcast-listening-time-than-youtube/ #Podcasting #Spotify #YouTube #Podcasts #MediaConsumption
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ICYMI: Australians spend 21 hours a week streaming - and the data shows where: Ipsos iris and IAB Australia's March 2026 Digital Landscape Report maps 22.66M online Australians, their devices, and streaming habits across all age groups. https://ppc.land/australians-spend-21-hours-a-week-streaming-and-the-data-shows-where/ #StreamingAustralia #DigitalLandscape #OnlineHabits #MediaConsumption #StreamingReport
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ICYMI: Australians spend 21 hours a week streaming - and the data shows where: Ipsos iris and IAB Australia's March 2026 Digital Landscape Report maps 22.66M online Australians, their devices, and streaming habits across all age groups. https://ppc.land/australians-spend-21-hours-a-week-streaming-and-the-data-shows-where/ #StreamingAustralia #DigitalLandscape #OnlineHabits #MediaConsumption #StreamingReport
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ICYMI: Australians spend 21 hours a week streaming - and the data shows where: Ipsos iris and IAB Australia's March 2026 Digital Landscape Report maps 22.66M online Australians, their devices, and streaming habits across all age groups. https://ppc.land/australians-spend-21-hours-a-week-streaming-and-the-data-shows-where/ #StreamingAustralia #DigitalLandscape #OnlineHabits #MediaConsumption #StreamingReport
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FYI: Irish digital audio hits COVID-era highs, and advertisers are noticing: IAB Ireland's Listen Up 2026 finds 76% weekly reach, 16.6 hours consumed, and digital audio ads ranked second for claimed attention across all media in Ireland. https://ppc.land/irish-digital-audio-hits-covid-era-highs-and-advertisers-are-noticing/ #DigitalAudio #COVID19 #Advertising #IABIreland #MediaConsumption
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ICYMI: 96% of advertisers back audio as Bauer study exposes glaring investment gap: Sound Check Europe 2026: 96% of advertisers will hold or grow audio spend, yet audio captures only 5% of ad investment despite one-fifth of media consumption. https://ppc.land/96-of-advertisers-back-audio-as-bauer-study-exposes-glaring-investment-gap/ #AudioMarketing #Advertising #MediaConsumption #DigitalMarketing #AdSpend
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ICYMI: 96% of advertisers back audio as Bauer study exposes glaring investment gap: Sound Check Europe 2026: 96% of advertisers will hold or grow audio spend, yet audio captures only 5% of ad investment despite one-fifth of media consumption. https://ppc.land/96-of-advertisers-back-audio-as-bauer-study-exposes-glaring-investment-gap/ #AudioMarketing #Advertising #MediaConsumption #DigitalMarketing #AdSpend
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Zap! What television programmers invented and Silicon Valley perfected - part 2 www.linkedin.com/pulse/zap-what… #history #mediaConsumption #television #SocialMedia #moralPanics
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Zap! What television programmers invented and Silicon Valley perfected - part 2 www.linkedin.com/pulse/zap-what… #history #mediaConsumption #television #SocialMedia #moralPanics
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Americans Spend an Average of 6.3 Hours Daily on Mobile Devices; Older Users Log Up to 358 Minutes Across 17 Apps By Adam Blacker | Apptopia We took a look at Apptopia’s U.S. consumer panel data ...
#apps #Business #chart #Consumer-Behavior #ConsumerTrends #Internet #media-consumption #news #Social-Media #Technology
Origin | Interest | Match -
Media producers have a #bias. Would be nice to have a #tool that assists with our #mediaconsumption. Not so much as a #censor, but as an informer. An #app that pre-digests #content, and then serves it with additional information to understand what and why something is presented to us, in a specific manner. All with the aim to reduce #cognitiveload and supporting #criticalthinking powered consumption of media consumption, in a #content #saturated #environment.
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Media producers have a #bias. Would be nice to have a #tool that assists with our #mediaconsumption. Not so much as a #censor, but as an informer. An #app that pre-digests #content, and then serves it with additional information to understand what and why something is presented to us, in a specific manner. All with the aim to reduce #cognitiveload and supporting #criticalthinking powered consumption of media consumption, in a #content #saturated #environment.
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Broadband TV News: Older viewers drive YouTube’s long-form growth. “Based on a 56,000-respondent global tracker, Ampere says 85% of internet users now watch YouTube each month, with 18% of users reporting that they watch full-length movies and TV shows on the platform. The strongest engagement with this long-form catalogue sits among 35-64-year-olds, challenging perceptions of YouTube as a […]
https://rbfirehose.com/2025/11/12/broadband-tv-news-older-viewers-drive-youtubes-long-form-growth/
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Broadband TV News: Older viewers drive YouTube’s long-form growth. “Based on a 56,000-respondent global tracker, Ampere says 85% of internet users now watch YouTube each month, with 18% of users reporting that they watch full-length movies and TV shows on the platform. The strongest engagement with this long-form catalogue sits among 35-64-year-olds, challenging perceptions of YouTube as a […]
https://rbfirehose.com/2025/11/12/broadband-tv-news-older-viewers-drive-youtubes-long-form-growth/
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Broadband TV News: Older viewers drive YouTube’s long-form growth. “Based on a 56,000-respondent global tracker, Ampere says 85% of internet users now watch YouTube each month, with 18% of users reporting that they watch full-length movies and TV shows on the platform. The strongest engagement with this long-form catalogue sits among 35-64-year-olds, challenging perceptions of YouTube as a […]
https://rbfirehose.com/2025/11/12/broadband-tv-news-older-viewers-drive-youtubes-long-form-growth/
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Here is my #MonthlySummary with the media I consumed during July.
Also my second post for #Blaugust2025, or maybe the first, besides the introduction/announcement, I guess
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Here is my #MonthlySummary with the media I consumed during July.
Also my second post for #Blaugust2025, or maybe the first, besides the introduction/announcement, I guess
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»#Meta is reportedly working on an #ultralight #VRheadset that is specially designed for #mediaconsumption and #immersivevideos and is set to be launched in 2026.« https://www.heise.de/en/news/Report-Meta-plans-lightweight-premium-VR-glasses-for-media-consumption-10429842.html?Metaver.se #Metaverse #VirtualWorlds #XR #VR #MR #AR #BeyondPictures
