NEW YORK — Almost three in four (73%) U.S. adults think that viewing pornographic websites and videos is morally unacceptable, according to a survey commissioned by Morality in Media and conducted by Harris Interactive. This compares with 21% who feel that viewing pornographic websites and videos is morally acceptable. The question and overall breakdown of responses are as follows: “Do you consider it to be morally acceptable to view pornographic websites and videos?”
21%–Yes 73%– No 4%–Not Sure 2%–Refused
While the results indicate that majorities of all major demographic segments view this practice to be morally unacceptable, the findings also indicate differences based on key demographic variables.
Overall, the data show that 64% of males and 81% of females consider it unacceptable, while 29% of males and 13% of females consider it acceptable. Specifically, the data show that the following percentages of males and females in various age groupings feel that viewing pornographic websites and videos is not morally acceptable:
51% of males ages18 to 34 65% of males ages 35-54 77% of males ages 55+
73% of females ages 18-34 81% of females ages 35-54 90% of females ages 55+
The following percentages of males and females in various age groupings feel that viewing pornographic material is morally acceptable:
44% of males ages 18 to 34 29% of males ages 35-54 15% of males ages 55+
23% of females ages 18-34 13% of females ages 35-54 4% of females ages 55+
Eight-in-ten Republicans (82%) as well as seven-in-ten Independents (71%) and Democrats (68%) say it is not morally acceptable to view this type of material. Married adults (76%) are more likely to find viewing this material not morally acceptable than are single adults (63%). Similarly, adults who have children in the home (74%) are more likely to believe that viewing this material is not morally acceptable than those who do not have children (63%). There are also substantial differences based on religion.
Additional survey results and MIM president Robert Peters’ comments on the survey results are at www.obscenitycrimes.org (Current News page)