Carnal knowledge

How to watch porn ethically

Everyone does it, but does everyone do it right? Here’s how to become a more conscious consumer of adult entertainment.

Photo: IMAGO / Bihlmayerfotografie

Whether pornography is ‘ethical’ has been a decades-long debate, and it’s not always clear what ‘ethical porn’ is, if it exists, or where to find it. So, we asked industry experts for advice on how we can more thoughtfully engage with adult entertainment.

Pay for Pornography

“Step number one: PAY FOR YOUR PORN!” emphasises independent porn scientist Madita Oeming. She’s not the only one. All six industry representatives we spoke to for this article said that skipping big tube sites or otherwise free pornography is essential to being a conscious consumer.

“Your local pornographers need your help to keep creating films that challenge the sexual status quo,” says Berlin-based director and performer Hunter S. Johnson. “Money talks – and if it keeps flowing to mainstream producers who have traditionally supported a narrow set of desires and interests, that’s the only perspective we’ll continue to see.” Sex tech journalist Jenna Owsianik agrees: “Consumers shape the future of porn, whether they realise it or not. By paying for pornography, you acknowledge your role in the industry and help support fair labour standards.”

Know what to watch

According to the experts, some key indicators of quality content are: paywall access, consent featured prominently, a diverse range of bodies and people, promotion of positive and inclusive depictions of sex, exclusion of fetishising terminology, transparent payment models and documented health measures.

For rougher content and BDSM, you’ll likely need to research how performers speak about their co-stars and in-studio experience. If you’re not sure where to start, look into an independently-run pornography film festival programme. There are dozens of festivals worldwide and they typically have strict vetting processes, making them an excellent source for diverse, reputable films. Berliners can catch the 19th Berlin PornFilmFestival on October 22-27.

Expand your erotic repetoire

Often seen as a ‘more ethical’ alternative to visual pornography, audio erotica crafts an immersive sexual experience while minimising possible exploitative working conditions. Plus, many platforms, including Emjoy and Dipsea, are founded by women (an industry rarity). “Visual porn is not the only option … You don’t need to exclusively consume one [medium], but can switch however you feel like,” says Nina Julie Lepique, founder and CEO of Berlin-based platform femtasy.

For those who prefer the written word, there’s erotic literature. “I always recommend focusing on indie publishers with very diverse catalogues and real authors, not assembly-line writers or AI tools. This is much more arousing for you because you know that the authors wanted to create literature, not just a business,” says Giada Armani, founder of indie publishing house BERLINABLE. Websites like Archive of Our Own (AO3) and Wattpad also feature collections of curated erotica.

Follow your favourite creators

Platforms for independent creators, like OnlyFans and Patreon, help you financially contribute directly to your favourite porn-makers while accessing exclusive content. Follows on mainstream social media boost their audience and potential ad revenue. Owsianik notes you can also source better pornography: “[Adult performers] are far more likely to promote content they are proud of and enjoyed creating than content made under poor working conditions.”

Use porn to inspire, not compare

“Porn can be a fantastic tool for your sex life. Curious about a kink of fetish you’ve never tried? Let the professionals do it first and see if that’s something you want to try yourself,” says Amelie Mo, head of content at Ersties, an adult entertainment production studio in Berlin. “But it’s good to remind yourself that porn is still fiction, no matter how it’s made … [Filmmakers] have the joy of creating our ultimate sexual fantasies and making them look magical. That’s quite hard to compete with, so don’t feel bad if your sex life looks a little different.”

THE EXPERTS WE ASKED

Madita Oeming is an independent porn scientist, sexual education speaker and author of Porno: Eine unverschämte Analyse. She grew up in Berlin, but is currently based in Göttingen.

Hunter S. Johnson is an Adult Video News (AVN) nominated filmmaker, performer, and photographer based in Berlin. In 2023, he founded BE:smut, a sex-positive studio that aims to build healthy conversations around sex and sexuality through comedy.

Jenna Owsianik is a Canadian journalist who has been covering sex tech and adult entertainment for over a decade. She’s currently the editor of Sex For Every Body, an online publication that celebrates sexual and body diversity.

Nina Julie Lepique is the founder and CEO of femtasy, a Berlin-based streaming platform for women-centric audio erotica. She was included in Forbes 30 under 30 in 2020.

Giada Armani has been publishing erotic literature and audio stories since 2011. In 2019, she founded the indie publishing house BERLINABLE together with PORNCEPTUAL, an art and music collective that presents pornography as queer, diverse and inclusive.

Amelie Mo is a French feminist pornographer living in Berlin. She works as the head of content for Ersties, a Berlin-based adult production company focused on ethically-made amateur content.