Teen's Death Sparks Calls to Ban Choking in Porn
Australia considers ban after tragic case highlights dangers of sexual strangulation.
1Tragedy sparks policy debate
The death of a 16-year-old Sydney girl, suspected to involve sexual strangulation during consensual sex, has reignited calls for Australia to ban depictions of choking in pornography. This follows the UK's recent prohibition under its Online Safety Act. Authorities report the teen lost consciousness during the act and later died in hospital, though exact injuries remain undisclosed pending investigation. The case highlights growing concerns about porn's role in normalizing dangerous sexual practices among youth.
2Alarming prevalence among youth
Research shows 58% of US college women surveyed in 2021 had experienced sexual choking, with 25% first subjected to it by age 17. Australian studies mirror these findings, showing half of 18-35 year olds engage in the practice. Indiana University's Debby Herbenick notes most incidents occur in heterosexual encounters where men choke women, though LGBTQ+ individuals also report high rates. Many participants describe exceeding agreed-upon pressure levels, with some unable to stop their partners despite requests.
3Severe health consequences
Medical experts warn that even 'light' pressure during choking can cause carotid artery tears, blood clots, strokes, and cumulative brain damage. Sustained pressure may collapse airways, as likely occurred in the Sydney case. Professor Herbenick emphasizes that many injuries—like subtle vision impairment or cognitive decline—manifest gradually. Nonconsensual strangulation, occurring in 12% of abusive relationships, is a leading predictor of eventual homicide according to domestic violence research.
4Porn's normalization effect
Durham University's Clare McGlynn, a 20-year veteran of porn regulation research, documents how choking scenes in legal pornography have surged 300% since 2000. Her studies show 62% of UK teens cite porn as their primary source of sexual education, with many replicating seen behaviors assuming they're standard. Despite being staged, these depictions rarely show safety measures or consequences. McGlynn argues this creates a 'script' where youth equate choking with normal intimacy.
5Regulatory challenges
Australia's proposed ban would extend recent under-16 social media restrictions to porn platforms, requiring age verification. However, critics note such measures often fail technically while limiting access to educational content. The UK's April 2024 choking ban remains unenforced, as regulators haven't penalized non-compliant sites. McGlynn observes platforms only comply when facing fines, predicting meaningful change may take years of consistent enforcement to shift cultural perceptions.
6Industry pushback
Adult performers like Cherie DeVille contend bans drive content underground rather than educate. They argue prohibition ignores BDSM communities' established safety protocols and shifts focus from comprehensive sex education. Some producers have voluntarily reduced choking content by 40% since 2022 through self-regulation, implementing on-screen warnings and aftercare demonstrations. However, researchers counter that mainstream porn rarely depicts these harm-reduction practices.
7Global policy landscape
Only 4 countries currently prohibit choking in porn: the UK, Germany, Iceland, and Norway. Australia's consideration places it among 12 nations debating similar laws. The EU's Digital Services Act may soon mandate content warnings. Contrastingly, US regulations remain state-level, with just California requiring age verification. This patchwork approach creates jurisdictional loopholes, as 78% of porn is hosted in countries with minimal oversight according to 2023 industry reports.
8Long-term cultural shift
Experts agree reversing choking's normalization requires multi-pronged efforts: enforced platform regulations, school-based education on sexual safety, and medical community engagement. While UK models suggest generational change is possible, success hinges on consistent policy application and alternative content creation. The Sydney tragedy underscores the urgency, with advocates stressing that each month of inaction risks more preventable deaths among sexually explorative youth.
Original article: Wired — Teen's Death Sparks Calls to Ban Choking in Porn