Legal Definitions - pornography

Pornography, also known as "porn" or "porno," refers to material that depicts nudity or sexual acts with the intention of sexually arousing the viewer or reader. However, the mere presence of nudity or sexual content in a piece of media does not necessarily make it pornographic if the purpose of that media is not sexual stimulation.

Pornography can take various forms, including photographs, videos, written material, audio recordings, or animation. For instance, a sexually explicit video that is intended to arouse the viewer is considered pornography, while a medical textbook that includes images of the human reproductive system is not.

The legality of pornography varies from country to country. In the United States, it is generally legal for adults to purchase or access pornographic materials. However, it is illegal to distribute pornography to minors, and it is also illegal to produce, distribute, receive, or possess pornography that depicts minors engaged in sexual acts. Revenge porn, which involves the non-consensual distribution of sexual media, is also illegal in most states.

• A sexually explicit video that is intended to arouse the viewer
• A magazine that features photographs of nude models in sexually suggestive poses
• An erotic novel that describes sexual acts in graphic detail
• An audio recording of people engaging in sexual activity
• An animated video that depicts sexual acts

These examples illustrate how pornography is intended to sexually arouse the viewer or reader. They also demonstrate that pornography can take various forms, including visual, written, and audio media.