Am I a Porn Addict, or Am I Just Lonely? A Feminist Exploration for a Framework for Ethical Internet Pornography & Cybersex Work in South Africa.

Abstract

In a country where inequality is as visible as desire is invisible, South Africa confronts a crucial question: What does it mean to consume sex online ethically? This study examines the meanings of ethics, harm and violence in the consumption of internet pornography and cybersex work in South Africa, as understood by consumers themselves. As internet access increases, so does the consumption of explicit material, raising urgent concerns about its impact on gender dynamics and the normalisation of harm. Grounded in African Feminism(s), this study draws from and constructs a framework for ethical pornography, combining philosophies that emphasise understanding power relations and agency. The study addresses the lack of comprehensive research on the types of pornography consumed in South Africa, exploring the distinctions between harmful and non-harmful pornographic content and their broader social and cultural consequences. By using a mixed-methods approach, combining a questionnaire survey with qualitative methods, this study explores how consumers navigate and interpret how pornography can be decoupled from exploitative practices and reimagined as a medium that prioritises mutual respect, informed consent, and sexual autonomy. The findings highlight the potential of a framework on ethical pornography and cybersex work consumption in serving as an educational tool that challenges patriarchal norms, empowers individuals, and fosters healthier sexual representations. The study concludes by offering contextually grounded recommendations for ethical guidelines that promote transparency, agency, and harm reduction in the consumption of internet pornography and cybersex work. In centring South African experiences and African feminist philosophies, this research contributes meaningfully to global feminist debates on digital sexuality and the possibilities of ethical pornographic media. Keywords: Ethical Pornography, Internet Pornography, Cybersex work, African Feminism(s), Ethical Guidelines