The effects of sophistication, access and monitoring on use of pornography in three technological contexts

Technology has changed the varieties and means of distribution of porngraphy. The emergence of "hyperpornograpy" the Internet is the most notable example. Yet, little attention has been given to understanding what factors contribute to pornography use. Using data from the General Social Survey in 1973, 1994, and 2000-2002, this study tests the effects of sophistication, accessibility, and monitoring by others on the likelihood of using pornography in three technological contexts: film in theaters, film in theaters or VCRs, and websites. The results indicate that sex and age are important predictors of the likelihood of pornography use, regardless of technological context. Sophistication, accessibility, and monitoring also are significant, but this differs by technological context. Results are discussed in light of how pornography use can be explained by what Wilcox, Land, and Hunt, (2003) call dynamic multi-contextual opportunities for deviance.