Third person effect and Internet pornography in China

•We explore third person effects in the context of Internet pornography in China.•The prediction of greater effects on others than on self is supported.•Perceived effects on others influence the support for censorship.•We test the predictors of THE self-other perceptual gap.•Social distance, feminism and sexual attitude are significant predictors.

The current study contributes to the examination of third-person effects in the context of Internet pornography in China. Drawing from third-person effect theory, this study investigates what factors determine the self-others perceptual discrepancy in estimations of Internet pornography influences. Using data from a 2014 online survey (N = 533) conducted in China, study results indicated a significant difference between the perceived effects on self and others. Second, the study confirmed the theoretical linkage between perceived effects on others and respondent support for censorship of pornography. Third, study results revealed that the self-others perceptual gap was influenced by social distance between self and others, perceived feminism and perceived sexual conservatism.