The Story Porn, strangulation and the law
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Nov 24, 2025 Helen Puttick, a reporter for The Times, explores alarming trends of strangulation during sex and the role of pornography in normalizing these practices. Samantha Browne, a former adult performer, shares her harrowing experiences with exploitation in the industry, highlighting the alarming impact of aggressive porn on young people's perceptions of sex. Baroness Gabby Bertin discusses her independent review advocating for regulation on violent porn, including the recent ban on depicting strangulation, and emphasizes the importance of protecting young audiences while balancing sexual freedom.
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Survivor's Harrowing Account
- A woman described being strangled to unconsciousness repeatedly by a partner who watched violent pornography.
- She now suffers seizures, chronic headaches, PTSD, memory problems and long-term anxiety and guilt.
High Prevalence And Questioned Consent
- Helen Puttick reported a survey finding 51% of 16–34-year-olds experienced strangulation during sex and 70% said it was agreed in advance the last time it occurred.
- Experts warn consent may be uninformed when behaviours normalised by porn mask the real risks.
Porn Normalises Dangerous Practices
- Pornography increasingly features choking, suffocation and breath-play imagery accessible on mainstream sites and social media.
- This exposure likely teaches harmful norms, raises expectations for extreme sex and increases real-life risk like stroke and loss of consciousness.