走出道德恐慌：再思色情物品對青年人的影響

本文探討色情物品對青少年的影響。早於1970年代，西方社會學家已從道德恐慌的角度，指出社會人士對青少年問題的憂慮與客觀事實不符，往往由傳媒複製甚至誇大問題，令恐慌蔓延。本文介紹有關道德恐慌的理論，追溯道德恐慌在香港的情況；並透過一項名為「青年人眼中的色情物品」調查研究，探討色情物品是否真的有害，及為本地性教育作出一些具體建議。

This paper aims to address the question of whether pornography is harmful to young people. In the early 1970s, sociologists in the West began to examine society's concern over youth problems from the perspective of moral panic. It was found that the heightened level of concern over the behaviours of youngsters does not usually reflect the actual nature and scope of the problem. The mass media were shown to be an important player in intensifying and sustaining the anxiety. I will first introduce the theoretical premise of moral panic and discuss how moral panic has functioned in the discussion of pornography in Hong Kong. Based on the findings of a survey entitled "Pornography in the Eyes of the Youth," I will provide a critical examination of the effects of pornography on young people. I will conclude by making suggestions for a moral-panic-free sex education.