Porn has had an “insidious” impact on Irish society, Newstalk Breakfast presenter Shane Coleman has said. 

In a survey conducted by Women’s Aid, 71% of people agree that ‘Pornography is now harming society’ and among women the figure rose to 80%. 

The majority also agreed that porn is too accessible and fuelling people’s interest in rough or violent sex. 

“I think porn is really harmful, I think it’s insidious, I hate the impact porn has had on our society,” Shane said. 

“I hate the impact it’s had on sex; I think it creates unrealistic expectations of sex - particularly among young men.

“It creates unrealistic expectations about bodies - I think everyone knows what I mean when I talk about that. 

“It puts huge pressure on young women to conform to this ‘pornographic norm’ and there’s loads of research about the damage it does if it becomes addictive. 

“But even at a lower level, I don’t like the impact it’s had on our society.” 

2ETY1YJ Pornhub company logo on a smartphone screen in a man's hand. Global internet video resource.

However, his co-presenter Ciara Kelly said that the impact of porn was not wholly negative. 

“I know there are issues with porn; there are issues around violence, there are issues around trafficking,” she said.  

“But if you stand back a little; in the same way there are issues with alcohol, there are people who are addicted to alcohol and there are people who are addicted to porn. 

“But there are other people who use porn in a way that is not this desperate, violent, objectification kind of a way. 

“Other people use porn for pleasure, other people use porn for sexual gratification; men use it, couples use it, women use and I don’t object to it in principle and if it could be regulated and made safer for the people who take part in it.”