Seeing pornography is not inherently damaging to guys or women. But I would offer some caveats. There are individuals who probably should not view pornography, like those with bad body image or those who have been sexually taken advantage of. Depending on your option in viewing, you can develop impractical expectations about sex or what people like or how you'll be anticipated to "perform." And seeing with somebody needs real permission.
When none of these red flags are up, pornography can certainly have advantages. Therapists often recommend it to assist people become comfortable with a specific fantasy they or their partner might have. Pornography can reboot a couple's sex life. It can offer you concepts, or assist you get in touch with what turns you on.
Porn can reboot a couple's sex life. It can give you ideas, or help you connect with what turns you on. Pornography can deliver you there at best, or disgust you at worst. Everything depends on what you pick to see. With the accessibility of pornography online, it's possible to sample sufficient pornography quickly that you do not have to find yourself viewing wall-to-wall hard-core sex if it's plot driven erotica that appeals to 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 pornography; you can become 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 because they like sex a lot and they consider it a great method to make money. Then there are those who are drawn to porn as a way of acting out subconscious mental problems-- searching for daddy's love or punishment for being a bad lady. For numerous, it's probably a little of each. Even females with the very best mental health will face some disadvantages from this work. Our culture takes in pornography at record numbers, but the females who carry out are still judged harshly.
I'm unsure the male performers get out entirely unscathed either. While they might not be judged as harshly as the females, ultimately they're considered as freaks who make their living with their anatomy. John Holmes's fate is the ultimate cautionary tale.
Possibly if we weren't still so taken in with guilt and website embarassment about sex, neither watching nor carrying out in these films would carry the weight it does. However then, perhaps we would not be so interested in them, either. If the fruit were not forbidden, would anybody care to take a bite?