Teen boys told us what porn they're really watching.

For a teenage boy in 2025, accessing pornography isn't difficult. 

All they need is a phone or computer, and a willingness to click 'yes' when you're asked if they're over 18. 

Despite the easy access, teenage boys are increasingly turning away from regular pornography. Why? Regular porn is simply, too violent. 

"It's just women being choked or raped," 16-year-old Jack* told Mamamia.

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"That's literally all there is. Obviously, it's not real, and the women have consented, but like, it's just not that enjoyable to watch someone (look like they're) getting (assaulted)."

15-year-old Cody* agrees. He says, when they do want to access porn, they tend to watch clips that are more — as they describe them — passionate. 

According to Jack, regular pornography has been dominated by violence and abuse of women for as long as he's been able to access it. He says he can see the danger in normalising violent sex, and admits to being influenced as a younger teen. 

"When I was younger, like 14, I just thought that was normal," said Jack.

"Most of us did," Cody added. "We don't want to watch that sh** now though."

Lachlan Macqueen is a PhD candidate at Griffith University and says, despite an increase in extreme pornography over the past ten years — and a subsequent higher tolerance and demand for it — his own recent research suggests a backlash against extreme male influencers and associated rhetoric. 

"The majority of young adult men I have spoken to have said the stuff (Andrew Tate) says about women is cringe, and that they like the relationships they have with their female friends," Lachlan said.

They also describe their relationships with females as partnerships built on trust, not control. 

"So that would make sense why men would look for more normal average pornography which fits more with their real life experiences," he added.

Lachlan says this is a positive sign, and suggests the recent wave of education and discussions about the dangers of excessive pornography use has started to filter out. 

"However, I do now think we need to get more data on this new wave of men engaging in positive behaviours to help start to develop a list of protective factors etc," he said. 

"As there is still a part of the young male population engaging in high levels of more and more extreme pornography, which can raise the risk of maladjustment, especially when it comes to sexual relationships and expectations from women."

Along with watching "more passionate" content, Lachlan said he's noticed a rise in people watching partner content. 

"So it's usually a couple that just have sex on camera. So pretty normal, nothing too extreme," he said.

At the end of the day, though, pornography is a business, and the prevalence of violence in pornography does suggest a demand for it. Or, a desensitisation, similar to drug tolerance, that requires something more extreme over time. 

"Since these videos are being consumed so quickly, they need more and more content pouring out. And if it is more extreme, then it will usually get more clicks, as people see how far it can be pushed. 

"Secondly, the more you watch, the more extreme it tends to need to be to get the same result from the viewer." 

The ripple effect.

"Pornography is increasingly violent and exploitative and readily available to young people," said Matt Tyler, Executive Director of The Men's Project at Jesuit Social Services.

"This means pornography plays a significant role in the informal sex education of young people, reinforcing ideas of dominance, entitlement and control." 

Matt says this type of content frequently normalises objectification, aggression, and a lack of respect and can easily become a distorted and damaging foundation for understanding sexuality, relationships, and consent. 

"When pornography normalises violence and harmful gender stereotypes, it contributes to a culture where girls in particular face increased objectification, disrespect, and the potential for sexual harassment and assault," he said.

"The distorted norms presented can shape boys' expectations of girls and relationships, potentially fostering environments where girls' safety is compromised. 

"Through The Men's Project's work in schools, we see the importance of increasing awareness of the impact of violent pornography and support efforts to better engage young people on related topics."

The first step is creating an environment where boys are comfortable asking questions without worrying about breaking taboos.

"Open and honest conversations about the potential harms of pornography are crucial, not only for young people, but also for parents, educators, and the wider community," he said.

"This topic can be difficult for parents and others involved in young people's lives to approach, but it's important the burden doesn't fall exclusively on teachers."

*Names have been changed.

Feature image: Getty.