Prior to the 2024 election, concern was raised over the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025. Many accused it of supporting a Christian Nationalist agenda in the U.S. There is simply too much to talk about regarding Project 2025, so I will instead focus on one part that I think won’t work: Banning pornography.
Pornography itself is frowned upon by Christians, among many other groups. It is generally seen as something shameful, and events like No Nut November and the concept of post nut clarity indicate that this isn’t lost on those who view pornography.
Theoretically, a pornography ban would be widely supported; it might even be beneficial for the nation and those who are addicted to porn. Yet, I still don’t think it would work.
The U.S. tried banning a commodity that was seen as sinful and damaging to society in 1920; alcohol. However, Prohibition was a resounding failure that was eventually repealed in 1933. Some of the same causes of Prohibition’s failure, such as loopholes and widespread popularity before being banned, will likely haunt attempts to ban pornography.
Moreover, drug dealing is still a problem in the U.S. If we are incapable of stopping the production and distribution of illegal substances that greatly harm a person’s health, how are we going to ban something that appears far more benign?
There is also the question of what constitutes pornography. Many video games have sex scenes, such as “Mass Effect,” “Grand Theft Auto V” and “Red Dead Redemption 2.” Recent video games like “Cyberpunk 2077” and “Baldur’s Gate 3” not only show genitalia but also allow players to customize it for the player character. Would games such as these also be considered pornography, and thus banned?
Additionally, there is the question of how the government will prevent people from viewing pornographic sites. While blocks could be placed to prevent people in a certain area from opening certain websites, how can VPNs be accounted for?
Many people who watch pornography do so to satisfy sexual desire, and even a successful pornography ban can’t get rid of that. Proponents of the ban could argue that this would encourage people to get married, growing the population of the U.S. However, I think the outcome will be less idealized; pornography doesn’t require consent, but a partner does.
Prostitutes could become an alternative to pornography as well, and while prostitution is illegal in nearly every U.S. state, that hasn’t stopped the industry from becoming large and wealthy. A ban on pornography could just make another illegal sexual outlet more popular.
Like Prohibition was in the twentieth century, a successful pornography ban is a pipe dream that will have unintended consequences.
