Perceived effects of sexually explicit Internet content: The third-person effect in Singapore

This study investigated the third-person effect of pornography on the Inter net. The study was conducted in Singapore, a conservative nation that looks askance at sexuality in media. Congruent with the third-person effect, res pondents judged pornographic material on the Internet to have a greater imp act on others titan on themselves. This "perceptual bias" predicted support for censorship. In addition to general tests of the third-person effects o f perceptual and behavioral components, the study also examined factors tha t may enhance or mitigate the third-person effect. Findings revealed eviden ce for a perceived social distance corollary with children to be more influ enced by pornography. The perceived greater effect on children, however, di d not increase the likelihood of support for censorship on children. This f inding supports McLeod, Eveland, and Nathanson's assertion that perceived l ikelihood of exposure to content may affect third-person perception.