Consider Before Consuming

Dr. Michael Robb is a developmental psychologist and Head of Research at Common Sense Media. In this episode, he joins us to unpack findings from two major Common Sense Media studies: Teens and Pornography, which explores how teens are exposed to and engage with online pornography, and Teens in the AI Era: Pornography and Sexual Content, which examines how AI-generated explicit content is creating new challenges for young people.
Common Sense Media’s research found that the average reported age of first exposure to pornography was 12, while 30% of teens reported seeing pornography during the school day. And as AI-generated sexual content becomes increasingly common, 44% of teens say they’ve encountered it, with about 1 in 4 of those teens seeing AI sexual content depicting themselves or someone they personally know.
Why do teens watch porn? What are teens learning from pornography about sex? And how is AI-generated porn changing what young people encounter online? Dr. Robb discusses differences in how boys and girls engage with pornography, why so much exposure happens accidentally, what teens themselves say they're learning from porn, and what parents and trusted adults should know about explicit deepfakes and AI-generated sexual content.

Episode Resources:
Article: Nearly Half of Teens Exposed to AI-Generated Sexual Content
Article: How Many Students Watch Porn at School?
Common Sense Study 2023: Teens and Pornography
Common Sense Study 2026: Teens in the AI Era
Conversation Guide: Let's Talk About Porn

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Madyson is a former OnlyFans creator who spent three and a half years creating pornographic content before leaving the industry. After first being exposed to pornography at seven years old, Madyson says she began imagining a future in the porn industry by age 12 and started creating content shortly after turning 18.
What is it really like to be an OnlyFans creator? How much money do OnlyFans creators actually make? And is OnlyFans really empowering for its creators?
In this episode, Madyson shares how the promise of easy money and empowerment compared with her experience of increasing subscriber demands, shifting personal boundaries, body-image struggles, and objectification. She also discusses why leaving wasn't as simple as deciding to stop, how her content continues to affect her years later, and what she wishes young people considering OnlyFans understood before joining.

Episode Resources:
Article: The “OnlyFans Era” and What Pop Culture Gets Wrong About Selling Sexual Content Online
Podcast: Consider Before Consuming Ep. 153: Taylor
Conversation Guide: Let's Talk About Porn

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What is it like to be the first generation to grow up with smartphones, social media, and internet pornography?
In this bonus episode, we unpack new survey findings about Gen Z's experiences with pornography, relationships, and consent. They discuss how online pornography became many young people's first exposure to sex, why social media has become a major source of exposure, and what today's young adults say they wish had been different.

Episode Resources:
Article: How Are Gen Z Using Porn?
FTND Parent Page

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Joseph Alto is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and the Head of Growth at Relay Health, a recovery app designed to help individuals overcome compulsive pornography use through accountability, community, and evidence-informed support.
How do you quit pornography? Why is it so difficult to stop, even when you genuinely want to? What actually helps people experience lasting recovery?
In this episode, Joe shares practical, compassionate guidance for anyone trying to quit pornography. Drawing from both his clinical experience and his own recovery journey, he explains why willpower alone often isn't enough, how to identify the emotions and patterns driving pornography use, what to do after setbacks, and how accountability, community, and healthier coping strategies can support long-term recovery.
This episode is sponsored by Relay, a secure peer-support app that connects you with a small group of people who understand what you’re going through and help you stay accountable on your journey to quit porn. CBC listeners can try Relay free for 7 days by signing up at http://ftnd.org/joinrelay.

Episode Resources:
Article: How to Actually Quit Porn This Year
Podcast: Consider Before Consuming Ep. 152: Chris Chandler
Conversation Guide: Let's Talk About Porn

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Trigger Warning: This episode discusses AI-generated explicit imagery, nonconsensual intimate images, sexual exploitation, and image-based abuse.
Can someone create fake pornography using your Instagram photos? Are AI OnlyFans models replacing real creators? What happens if someone makes explicit deepfakes of you without your consent?
In this bonus episode of Consider Before Consuming, Elisabeth and Scott discuss a recent lawsuit alleging that dozens of men used AI to generate explicit images of unsuspecting women, sell that content online, and even teach others how to do the same. They explore how these schemes work, why everyday social media users are increasingly being targeted, and what this says about the growing demand for exploitative AI-generated content.

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