Size & Structure - Commercial Sex Industry

Very useful report has just come out.

Ideal for anyone interested in the size of the commercial sex industry (in some key US Cities).

Danah Boyd: It's Complicated (Teens & Technology)

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Danah Boyd is someone I've mentioned in lectures. She is a sociologist who uses anthropological approaches to research. Here she is talking about her research into how young people interact with new technology. There are useful links to some of her publications one her website.

Make Love Not Porn: Cindy Gallop at TEDxOxford

Founder of Make Love Not Porn Cindy Gallop.

Cindy is good presenter and discusses some interesting ideas.

Not exactly lacking in self confidence but don't let detract from some good points.

Note she does use some terms and covers subjects that some may find embarrassing.

Why I stopped watching porn

Why I stopped watching porn: Ran Gavrieli at TEDxJaffa 2013

Another TEDx video focusing on the violent nature of much internet pornography.

He offers an interesting view on the artificiality of many pornographic scenes.

The comments posted in response to this video (hosted on YouTube) are worth a read.

The Great Porn Experiment: Gary Wilson at TEDxGlasgow

Useful video trying to examine the impact of pornography from a social science (often psychological) perspective. Touches upon some of the problems that heavy use of internet porn may be causing (primarily among young men). Makes some useful points; such as internet porn not being the same as sex. Helps possibly explain too why some people (males and females) become addicted to internet porn (linked to Dopamine levels  in brain). Porn addicts are very similar to gambling, gaming and internet addicts.

See useful Guardian article on female pornography addicts. Why flag up female addicts? Because they tend to be overlooked in the sociological literature and crucially it reminds us of the heterogeneity of women.

The video also makes some useful observations about men trying to give up their internet porn addiction. Finally it helps to explain how internet porn is qualitatively different to earlier forms of pornography (for young men).

The Sexy Lie - Sexual Objectification

The Sexy Lie: Caroline Heldman at TEDxYouth@SanDiego

Good video for introducing the concept of sexual objectification and why technology and computer mediated communication (CMC) might have contributed to a growth in it.

Disclosure - I'm not sure I agree with all of her analysis but this is a watchable and informative video.

Public Lecture on Hacktivism - Jonathan Zittrain

Hacktivism: Anonymous, lulzsec, and Cybercrime in 2012 and Beyond
Useful Q & A if you want to learn more about the topic of hacking from a socio-legal perspective.