Reactions to Unsolicited Violent, and Sexual, Explicit Media Content Shared over Social Media

Gender Differences and Links with Prior Exposure

Bibliographic Data

ID15508643
AuthorsLaura Louise Nicklin (0000-0002-6195-9501, University of Wolverhampton), Emma Swain (University of Wolverhampton), JOANNE LLOYD (0000-0003-3891-7247, University of Wolverhampton, corresponding author)
Year2020
Volume17
Issue12
Pages4296-4296
Publication date2020-06-16
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph17124296
PMID32560142
OpenAlexW3035079618
LanguageEN
Citations received7
References cited19

While there has been extensive research into consumption of "traditional" forms of explicit sexual and violent media (within pornography, videogames and movies), the informal exchange and viewing of explicit real-world violent and sexual content via social media is an under-investigated and potentially problematic behaviour. The current study used an online survey ( n = 225: 169f, 55m, 1x, mean age 30.61 (SD 12.03)) to explore self-reported reactions to unsolicited explicit violent and sexual content that participants had received from friends or contacts. In line with our predictions based on previous studies of fictional explicit content, we found effects of both gender and prior exposure on these reactions. Specifically, females rated both sexual and violent explicit content as significantly less funny and exciting and more disturbing than males did. Amongst males, those with high previous exposure rated violent content as more exciting than those with lower or no prior experience. Regardless of gender, participants with higher exposure to sexual content rated it as funnier than those with mild or no exposure, and those with higher exposure to violent content rated it as more amusing and more exciting. However, contrary to what desensitization theories would predict, prior exposure did not attenuate how disturbing explicit content (of either a sexual or a violent nature) was rated. Multiple avenues for further investigation emerged from this preliminary cross-sectional study, and we suggest priorities for further qualitative or longitudinal work on this novel topic

Content (measure theory · Developmental psychology · Human sexuality · Injury prevention · Media content · Poison control · Pornography · Sociology · Gender Studies · Gender, Feminism, and Media · Impact of Technology on Adolescents · Medicine · Psychology · Sexuality, Behavior, and Technology · Social Psychology

Tools

Open DOIOpen Access