Pornography increases sex trafficking, child sexual abuse, and child pornography.
Exposure to pornography often serves as sex education for children and adolescents and shapes their sexual templates.
Children's exposure to pornography leads to low self-esteem and body image disorders, and an increase in problematic sexual activity.
Research indicates that pornography is biologically addictive and over time a user will require more shocking material.
Exposed children are more likely to engage in hookups, multiple sex partners, group sex, and use substances during sex at a young age.
Pornography objectifies individuals and normalizes violence and abuse by presenting rape and abuse as harmless.
Previous Legislation
Montana Resolution on the
Public Health Crisis of Pornography
In April 2019, Montana joined a total of fifteen states that have passed a resolution declaring pornography a public health crisis. (Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, and Virginia have all passed it since 2016.) In recognizing the public health crisis created by pornography, we are advocating for prevention, recovery, research, and policy change at the community and societal level in order to address the epidemic that is harming the citizens of Montana.