I suspect that the problems to which you refer aren't rooted in viewing sexual imagery (which is as old as cave paintings). They are more likely rooted in our inability to communicate needs or understand the needs of others.
That is, the needs for novelty, sex, sexual intimacy, and love are all both normal (and universal) needs. Meeting the first two needs by viewing sexually explicit imagery can never fulfill the latter two needs. Some men (and women) lack a certain literacy when it comes to their needs, and so confuse and conflate these four things. This can lead to problems in or out of a relationship, certainly.
To complicate matters, vilification of sexually explicit imagery deepens the problem. We're left dealing with the cognitive dissonance that comes with two conflicting ideas: "sexually explicit imagery is bad (or in the case of this post... dangerous!), but I like the novelty and sexual release associated with viewing it". This leads us to a weird place, mentally. It trains us to associate fulfilling normal needs with fear, shame, and negative self-judgements. *This* is a key part of the problem.
Rather than trying to convince people that they have a problem caused by viewing sexual imagery, let us help people to develop an understanding of these universal human needs by cultivating self-awareness, active listening, compassion, empathy, and other core communication skills. This may help to address the actual problem.
An alternative way to look at this
That is, the needs for novelty, sex, sexual intimacy, and love are all both normal (and universal) needs. Meeting the first two needs by viewing sexually explicit imagery can never fulfill the latter two needs. Some men (and women) lack a certain literacy when it comes to their needs, and so confuse and conflate these four things. This can lead to problems in or out of a relationship, certainly.
To complicate matters, vilification of sexually explicit imagery deepens the problem. We're left dealing with the cognitive dissonance that comes with two conflicting ideas: "sexually explicit imagery is bad (or in the case of this post... dangerous!), but I like the novelty and sexual release associated with viewing it". This leads us to a weird place, mentally. It trains us to associate fulfilling normal needs with fear, shame, and negative self-judgements. *This* is a key part of the problem.
Rather than trying to convince people that they have a problem caused by viewing sexual imagery, let us help people to develop an understanding of these universal human needs by cultivating self-awareness, active listening, compassion, empathy, and other core communication skills. This may help to address the actual problem.