Author Chetan Bhagat has recently shared anecdotes about his experiences with pornography during his college years, reflecting on how access to it has changed over time and its potential impact on mental health. Speaking to The Lallantop, Bhagat recalled a time when access to pornography was limited, especially for students living in hostels.
Bhagat described how he and his friends would pool their money to rent a VCR for a single night to watch pornographic films. "Humare hostel mein paise hote nahi the, ek raat ke liye VCR hire kiya VHS, CD se bhi pehle, toh usme Rs 100 do toh usme aapko de kar jata tha. 20 ladke, Rs 5-5 de kar, ek raat ke liye hire karte the, saare milke dekhte the," he said, explaining that they would pay around 100 rupees to rent the VCR before VHS and CDs existed. About 20 boys would contribute 5 rupees each to watch it together.
Bhagat contrasted this limited exposure with the easy access to pornography that people have today through their phones and other devices. He considers this constant availability "very dangerous". While he admitted to watching pornography out of curiosity in his youth, he emphasized that he was not constantly exposed to it.
Bhagat also addressed the potential negative effects of pornography consumption on mental health. He stated that studies have shown that it can be harmful and can affect the brain's dopamine circuits in a similar way to alcohol and cigarettes. "It can become addictive and can lead to mental health problems and low-level depression," Bhagat explained. He himself does not consume pornography because of these concerns. He also mentioned that as a young person in college, he felt there was nothing better than it. Back then, he said, they were forcibly controlled because they didn't have devices.
Bhagat had previously voiced his opposition to banning pornography, despite acknowledging its potential harms. He argued that a ban on porn makes no sense in a free society, citing moral, legal, social, practical, and political reasons.
Chetan Bhagat recently released his novel, "12 Years: My Messed-Up Love Story".
