Viewing pornography is not naturally hazardous to men or females. But I would offer some cautions. There are people who most likely shouldn't see porn, like those with poor body image or those who have actually been sexually victimized. Depending upon your choice in watching, you can establish unrealistic expectations about sex or what individuals like or how you'll be expected to "carry out." And viewing with somebody requires true approval.
When none of these red flags are up, porn can certainly have advantages. Counselors often recommend it to help individuals become comfy with a particular dream they or their partner may have. Porn can reboot a couple's sex life. It can give you concepts, or help you connect with what turns you on.
Pornography can reboot a couple's sex life. It can give you concepts, or help you contact what turns you on. Porn can provide you there at best, or disgust you at worst. It all depends upon what you choose to see. With the availability of pornography online, it's possible to sample sufficient pornography quickly that you do not have to find yourself seeing wall-to-wall hard-core sex if it's plot driven erotica that attract you. You're just a victim of bad porn if you let yourself be.
And a word about sex or pornography addiction. I do not believe in it. Unlike a chemical substance, like opiates, you can't end up being "addicted" to sex or porn; you can end up being a compulsive viewer. In this case, it's not the pornography that's the problem; it's the compulsive character. If it weren't porn being used to act out one's compulsive nature, it might be food or some other habits.
As for whether it's damaging or beneficial to the performers, let's take females first. There are some who select to perform since they like sex a lot and they consider it a great method to earn a living. Then there are those who are drawn to porn as a method of acting out subconscious psychological problems-- trying to find daddy's love or punishment for being a bad lady. For numerous, it's most likely a little of each. Even women with the very best mental health will deal with some downsides from this work. Our culture takes in pornography at record numbers, but the females who perform are still evaluated harshly.
I'm unsure the male performers get out entirely unharmed either. While they might not be judged as roughly as the women, ultimately they're considered as freaks who make their you pervert living with their anatomy. John Holmes's fate is the ultimate cautionary tale.
Maybe if we weren't still so consumed with regret and shame about sex, neither viewing nor carrying out in these films would bring the weight it does. But then, possibly we would not be so interested in them, either. If the fruit were not prohibited, would anyone care to take a bite?