Third-person effect

The third-person effect hypothesis states that a person exposed to a persuasive communication in the mass media sees it as having a greater effect on others than on himself or herself (Davison, 1983). This is known as the perceptual hypothesis, but there is also a behavioral hypothesis predicting that perceiving others as more vulnerable increases support for restrictions on mass media.

The third-person effect hypothesis also argues that people are compelled themselves to take action after being exposed to a persuasive message but this action might not be due to the message itself but to the anticipation of the reaction of others. This action is unpredictable and it might be either in conformity with the message or counter to it.

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This is the patronizing attitude that the government is taking with the Australian public. If ACMA reviews content for classification why haven't they all turned into sex crazed maniacs. They assume that the Australian public is too stupid and fragile to cope with adult material.

They do not offer evidence to support this idea. Show me the proof that people are harmed by x-rated material, even underage people. Evidence people!