Ep 932 | The Shocking Truth About Pornhub | Guest: Arden Young

Podcast Summary

• Pornhub employees acknowledge harmful effects of porn: Despite public denial, Pornhub employees admit to awareness of porn's addictive nature and presence of underage content, contradicting industry's narrative

  Despite Pornhub's public stance, their employees have admitted on record that they are aware of the addictive and unhealthy nature of porn, as well as the presence of underage individuals on their platform. An undercover investigation by journalist Arden Young revealed that Pornhub employees acknowledged the harmful effects of porn and even admitted to not properly verifying consent for uploaded content. Contradicting the industry's narrative, these employees acknowledged the potential for addiction and ethical concerns. This investigation highlights the discrepancy between the public image and the internal practices of porn companies, emphasizing the need for greater regulation and transparency.

• Normalization of pornography and exploitation on Pornhub: Despite massive traffic, Pornhub's lack of age and consent verification, indifference to reporting illegal content, and ease of exploitation for advertisers raise ethical concerns about normalization and potential harm of pornography

  The normalization of pornography and the exploitation of individuals, including children, on websites like Pornhub raises serious ethical concerns. Mike Farley, a senior employee at Pornhub for over a decade, defended the industry, but his views seemed incongruent with his role in promoting pornography and the potential harm it causes. Despite the massive number of visitors, Pornhub's lack of verification processes for age and consent, and its indifference to reporting illegal content, contribute to the problem. Furthermore, the normalization of pornography within the company and the ease with which advertisers can exploit children are additional concerns. The ease of access and the perceived anonymity of these sites can lead to addiction and moral ambiguity, making it essential to address the issue of pornography and its potential harms.

• Companies may not prioritize age verification in videos: Despite claims, some companies don't prioritize age verification in videos, raising ethical concerns and potential harm to individuals. It's crucial for businesses to prioritize ethical practices.

  While some companies claim to have processes in place to ensure the age of those in videos used for advertising, they may not actually prioritize this concern. For instance, Pornhub, which has faced criticism for hosting content involving underage individuals, reportedly did not seem overly concerned about the age of people in videos when it was brought up. This raises serious ethical concerns, particularly when it comes to the potential harm caused to individuals whose content is uploaded without their consent. Another concerning issue is the lack of effective measures to verify the age of individuals in videos, making it difficult to prevent the monetization of inappropriate content. It's essential for companies to prioritize ethical business practices and take a proactive approach to addressing these issues. Now, let me tell you about Everylife, a pro-life diaper company that offers high-quality, premium diapers without harmful additives. By choosing Everylife, you're not only getting excellent diapers but also supporting families in need and promoting the cause of life. Go to everylife.com and use promo code Aly10 for a discount.

• Porn industry's prioritization of profits over age verification: The porn industry knowingly profits from underage content, normalizing unrealistic and harmful depictions, contributing to negative perceptions of women, sex, and relationships.

  The porn industry, specifically certain porn sites, is aware of the issue of underage individuals being included in their content, but they prioritize profits over compliance and age verification. They create content and ads that appeal to pedophiles and young teens, intentionally monetizing such behavior. Despite knowing the harm caused by their actions, they are unwilling to take significant steps to address the issue, as it would cost them money. This normalization of unrealistic and underage depictions in pornography can have detrimental effects on individuals' perceptions of women, sex, and relationships.

• The Debate over Pornography Access and Government Regulation: The industry's free speech rights clash with state laws protecting children, leading to lawsuits and blocked access, while ensuring medication access during emergencies remains a priority.

  The debate surrounding access to pornography and the role of government regulation continues to be a contentious issue. Companies like Pornhub argue for free speech rights, but many states are passing laws requiring ID verification to protect children from harmful content. Pornhub's response has been lawsuits and blocking access to their sites in certain states. Meanwhile, companies like Jayce Medical focus on ensuring access to necessary medications during emergencies. The journalist in the discussion used undercover methods to gather information from Pornhub employees, highlighting the complexity and secrecy of the industry. Ultimately, the conversation underscores the importance of balancing free speech with child protection and individual needs during crises.

• Undercover Dating with a Pornhub Executive: Undercover journalism raises ethical questions and potential legal consequences, even when reporting on controversial industries or individuals.

  The lines between personal and professional lives can blur in unexpected ways, even on a dating app. The speaker, a journalist, matched with a product manager of Pornhub and went on two dates with him without disclosing her true intentions. Despite the nature of his work, which the speaker found immoral, she felt comfortable enough to continue the interactions due to her past experiences in Hollywood. After the investigation was published, Pornhub's lawyers threatened legal action against the speaker, accusing her of operating illegally and disinformation. However, they failed to provide any specific evidence and instead focused on ethics for the journalist but not for themselves. The speaker emphasized that undercover journalism is not illegal and that they had Canadian legal counsel approval for their actions. Overall, this experience highlights the complexity of separating personal and professional judgments, and the potential consequences of undercover reporting.

• Holding businesses accountable for potential harm caused: Businesses must be held accountable for facilitating harmful content, like child sex trafficking, and normalizing explicit material. Efficient business systems, like NetSuite, can help manage growth and key performance indicators.

  Businesses, especially those in the content industry, need to be held accountable for the potential harm they may cause, including facilitating child sex trafficking and normalizing violent and explicit content. This was highlighted in the discussion about the class action lawsuits against Pornhub and the potential impact on victims. Additionally, the importance of using efficient and customized business systems, like NetSuite, to manage key performance indicators and growth was emphasized. The net impact of these issues can be significant, with potential financial liabilities for companies and detrimental effects on individuals, particularly children, exposed to harmful content at young ages.

• The Impact of Pornography on Children: Parents must teach children about pornography, encourage open communication, and advocate for stricter regulations and transparency to reduce negative impacts.

  As technology advances, the accessibility of pornography to young people has become a significant concern for parents. The effects of pornography on children's brains and relationships are a worry, and it's inevitable that they will be exposed to it in some way. Parents must teach their children about pornography in an age-appropriate way and encourage open communication about the topic. Stricter regulations and transparency are necessary to help reduce the normalization and negative impacts of pornography on society. The comparison can be drawn between the tobacco industry and pornography, where increased transparency and societal stigma have led to decreased usage. Ultimately, serious consequences should be imposed on those who exploit or profit from the trafficking of children in pornography.

• Exposing the Truth About the Adult Industry: The speaker, influenced by their faith, advocates for stigmatizing pornography due to its exploitative nature and encourages people to watch 'Colony Ridge' on Blaze Originals to learn more about hidden truths.

  The speaker, who was raised in Hollywood and later found faith, believes that pornography should be stigmatized due to the sexual exploitation involved. They find it exciting to expose the truth about the adult industry, which deviates from the typical PR responses. The speaker's faith plays a significant role in their desire to expose the industry's wrongdoings. They were inspired by a friend's conversation that led them to realize their faith wasn't genuine. Since then, they have experienced ups and downs in their faith journey, including getting married. Glenn Beck's new documentary on Blaze Originals, "Colony Ridge," uncovers the mysterious growth of a community in Texas, where most residents are illegal immigrants. The speaker encourages listeners to watch the docuseries by using the code "colonyridge" for a discount on an annual subscription to Blaze Originals.

• The power of faith and discipline with a supportive partner: Embrace your faith, stay grounded in the Bible and prayer, and have a supportive partner who can help you stay focused. Expose the unfruitful ways of darkness and shine a light on them.

  Faith and discipline go hand in hand, and having a supportive partner can make all the difference. The speaker shared her personal journey of leaving her past behind and embracing her newfound faith. She emphasized the importance of staying grounded in her Bible and prayer, even when it's challenging. Her husband, who has been incredibly supportive, even joining her in meetings to ensure safety, was described as a "cheat code to life." The speaker expressed her gratitude for the podcast that helped her stay focused on her faith and encouraged others to do the same. She also emphasized the importance of exposing the unfruitful ways of darkness and shining a light on them. The speaker, Arden, can be followed on Twitter @Arden_young_ and the Sound Investigations page for updates and more content.