Soft porn's easy digital presence corrodes values of new generation

Soft porn has taken an epidemic form in Bangladesh, spreading through social media platforms, video sharing and dating apps fuelled by the attention economy and youth-driven digital culture. 

Experts warn that this is not mere entertainment but a more insidious form of pornography that risks long-term social and psychological consequences for a generation.

Pornography is often understood as private explicit videos, yet the sexualized display of women on TikTok, Facebook Reels, YouTube and IMO falls within the Pornography Control Act's definition. Unlike traditional pornography, such content circulates without stigma, though its effects are equally or more harmful. 

Alarmingly, a generation is being exposed to this soft pornography from childhood, normalizing violations of the law.

Several factors explain the proliferation. The tendency of young users to go viral and attain micro-stardom overnight has transformed social media into a breeding ground for sexualized content. Easy monetary rewards from content-sharing platforms like TikTok, Facebook Reels, YouTube and others encourage creators to post increasingly risqué material. The government's strict ban on hardcore pornography-blocking over 20,000 sites-has inadvertently pushed so-called "porn entrepreneurs" into soft porn spaces, exploiting legal loopholes.

Added to this is the deep social taboo around sex, which drives youth toward voyeuristic content and a rebellion against restrictive norms. 

Collectively, these forces have normalized eroticized content in mainstream platforms under the guise of entertainment or health education.

While pornography conventionally refers to explicit adult material, experts argue that the portrayal of women's bodies in short videos is more alarming. Unlike the stigma associated with hardcore pornography, the addictive consumption of reels and short clips is rarely seen as harmful. "A generation is growing up watching these things since childhood, when we learned to eat rice," remarked a media activist Shafiur Rahman.

The Pornography Control Act 2012 provides a wide-ranging definition of pornography, extending to obscene dialogue, gestures, nude or semi-nude dances, audio-visual images and still pictures designed to arouse sexual desire without artistic or educational value. Which means, soft pornography is barred by the law but still things getting viral as there's limited knowledge and implication of such laws. Section 8(1) prescribes imprisonment of up to eight years and fines of Tk 200,000 for capturing such content, while Section 8(3) imposes up to five years' imprisonment and equivalent fines for distributing it online. The offence is non-bailable and cognizable, underscoring the legislature's severity.

Yet despite the legal framework, monetization structures and platform algorithms accelerate the spread. 

Channels, such as 'Bangla Health Tips BD,' amass millions of views by disguising erotic content as health advice. TikTok and Facebook reward provocative content with maximum reach, creating a cycle where risqué dances, comedy skits and lip-syncs become tools for visibility. Experts argue that this trend objectifies women, fosters toxic gender attitudes and risks desensitizing young men to sexual aggression.

Bangladesh's law enforcement acknowledges the scale of the challenge. Additional DIG of CID's Cyber Crime Command and Control MdShamsulHaque told The Daily Observer, "We have a page in Cyber Support Centre and anybody can submit allegation there and we work on those allegation. To control such contents, we conduct monitoring by ourselves and take suo-motu action against any content that violate the rules and values."

Scholars, however, stress preventive over punitive measures. Dr KhorshedAlam, Associate Professor of Mass Communication and Journalism at the University of Dhaka, explained, "A large number of young chaps are sexually frustrated and depressed. Besides, there are stricter rules and taboo about sexual contents and discussion in the country that make young generation prone to voyeuristic pleasure from either making these contents or watching." 

He advocated for four measures that can be taken in controlling soft pornography. "Need to increase media literacy, introduce sex education from school level, arranging campaigns and seminars, audio-visual advertisements to create awareness and finally formulating and implementing clear and specific laws. In the globalized and internet age, government has limited ability to restrict the overflow of content. So, they should try to focus on preventive measures instead of waiting for curative measures," Khorshed explained.

Despite government efforts and sporadic corporate crackdowns-such as IMO's deletion of over 600,000 Bangladeshi accounts in 2024-soft pornography has already entrenched itself in the country's digital landscape. With youth seeking fame, income and thrill through provocative performances, experts fear the pornification of social media could distort values, corrode relationships and deepen mental health crises.