Sex in Cyberspace-good or bad?

Over the years, the Internet has dramatically changed the way that people can interact with each other. Without ever coming face to face, people can form relationships through online chat rooms, dating sites, or virtual worlds such as second life. Many people consider cybersex a major issue in today’s society, and are concerned with the amount of pornographic material available to anyone with access to the Internet. You can type an apparently innocent phrase into a search engine and accidentally come across explicit material.

Cybersex can be defined as a social interaction between at least two persons who are exchanging real-time digital messages in order to become sexually aroused and satisfied. (Döring, 2000) There are both pros and cons to cybersex. One positive aspect is that there is no physical contact between partners, which eliminates the risk of sexually transmitted disease or unwanted pregnancy. Furthermore, socially inept people may use online communication because they find it difficult to meet or talk to people in reality. The Internet allows individuals to remain anonymous. Anyone can engage in sexual activities or live out hidden fantasies that they would not be comfortable doing in real life.

However, there are also various negative factors associated with cybersex. There is no way to predict who is on the other side of a conversation and people can easily lie about their age or gender. Cybersex offenders also use the Internet for purposes such as viewing, sending, and receiving child pornography. Victims who fall into their trap could potentially face devastating consequences. For instance, electronically maintained images can be distributed easily and quickly to a wide audience. Once posted on the Internet, they are harder to retrieve and control. (Bowker & Gray, 2005)

Ryan Singel addresses the concerns of cybersex in his article ‘Internet Porn: Worse Than Crack?’ he labels ‘Internet pornography as the new crack cocaine, leading to addiction, misogyny, pedophilia, boob jobs and erectile dysfunction.’ He argues that pornography is free and more readily available than a drug such as cocaine. For this reason, people who engage in cybersex may have a more difficult time recovering from their addiction.

In conclusion, there may be some positive aspects of cybersex, although in my opinion they do not outweigh the negative side. At first it may appear safe because you can always switch off the computer. However, people could easily find themselves manipulated by the person they are talking to, or simply grow to depend on the Internet to much when forming relationships, damaging their ability to communicate in the real world.

references
Döring, Nicola (2005) Feminist Views of Cybersex: Victimization, Liberation, and Empowerment. CyberPsychology & Behavior, Vol. 3 Issue 5.

Bowker, Arthur & Gray, Michael (2005) The Cybersex Offender and Children. FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Vol. 74 Issue 3.

Internetporn:WorseThanCrack: www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2004/11/65772