Porn addiction is a very real threat in modern society for both kids and adults. Fighting it alone is hard to do, and being accountable to someone makes your odds of success go way up.
Using community apps, accountability software, and web blockers helps you navigate the digital age without succumbing to the pitfalls of porn. The following are some of your best options available.
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Community Apps for Accountability
There are apps for accountability that don’t do anything about actually blocking pornography. What they emphasize is supporting users with their porn addiction. They can provide a sense of community, but it will be up to you to install, maintain, and use a blocker of some kind.
Fortify
This is only a support app. You’ll need a porn blocker in addition to it.
Fortify was developed by the same person who founded FTND, or Fight the New Drug. They’ve been educating the public about how dangerous pornography is since 2009, and they know quite a bit about this subject.
This app is useful for its resources and support groups. If you download the app, then you’ll be walked through all the many features available to you.
It has a calendar tracker. There are also lots of motivational materials. You’ll get asked thought-inspiring questions, such as what you might want your grandkids to think or say about you.
Visuals in this app are reminiscent of the Headspace app. That’s a good thing.
Fortify Pros
- Multiple community forums available
- Training weeks included
- Over 50,000 participants
- Free student scholarships
- Daily tracking
Fortify Cons
- A monthly subscription is required
- No blocking included
Brainbuddy
This app is downright gorgeous in terms of user-experience. You’ll find the on-boarding process to be really helpful. It actually helps you understand how detrimental porn can be in very effective ways.
Brainbuddy has lots of features. Once you download it, you’ll go through an assessment to rate your porn addiction level on a scale of 100. Once this is done, you’ll have a daily calendar. You’ll also be connected to several other users where you can all talk about your mutual challenges and achievements.
Something unique about this app is a tracker called ‘Rewiring’. It will actually let you know based on your personal assessment and app utilization how much your brain is getting rewired. This is a crucial component to porn addiction recovery.
Brainbuddy Pros
- Tracker for your brain rewiring
- Daily check-ins to monitor your progress and mood
- ‘Quests’ and ‘Missions’ to assist your adventure
- Basis in scientific research into fixing unhealthy behaviors
Brainbuddy Cons
- Android version of app has numerous bugs
- A monthly subscription is required
Accountability Software for Monitoring Content
Accountability software is designed to monitor any devices you apply them to for explicit content. If they detect it, they will share this information with anyone who is monitoring you in regards to your potential porn addiction.
Accountable2You
Accountable2You is a simple screen program. Its features include habit management tools that work in real-time.
You can set it up easily on many different devices. These include computers running Windows or Linux and smartphones in both the Android and iOS lines.
Perhaps the best thing about this software is how users can assign various partners for each particular device in just one price plan. Given that, you won’t have to pay for multiple copies of the software even if multiple family members wind up using it.
This program will give sent your accountability partners both instant notifications and weekly usage reports. There are also accurate hourly reports that a partner can look up any time they want via an online dashboard. This gives them the power to take immediate action if they think your screen usage isn’t going the right way.
One thing you should note is that this program only tracks online activity. It will not block content or sites.
Accountable2You Pros
- Weekly reporting
- GPS tracking for users
- Free trial for a test drive
- Tracks usage of app
- Able to monitor specific device locations
- Simple setup
- Easy-to-use features
Accountable2You Cons
- Employs keyword monitoring over visual clues
- No user privacy
Bark
This one isn’t a porn blocker, but it might be the best monitoring software that parents can use to keep their kids safe on smartphones. This covers email, Google Drive, TikTok, websites, and social media most of the time. Certain features aren’t compatible with iPhones.
Bark monitors more than 30 different apps and pieces of software that are popular with both kids and adults. There’s even a Jr. version to do basic website monitoring and screen-time management. However, it doesn’t work on desktops.
The monitoring is 24/7 and sends you alerts anytime something of concern comes up. Bark is also affordable at $49 and $99 a year respectively for the Jr. and premium versions.
Bark Pros
- Under $100 per year
- Alerts you about porn, videos, self-harm, catfishing, bullying, and explicit language
- Tremendous privacy as it only shows content that is questionable
- Tracks more than 30 different apps
Bark Cons
- Can only monitor mobile technology
- Unable to monitor particular iPhone apps
- Potentially cumbersome to set up
Covenant Eyes
This app has been around already for a number of years. They are well-known for their ‘Screen Accountability’ feature using patented and advanced technology that does things differently than everyone else. This software operates in the background of any device it is installed on and takes occasional screen captures if you are visiting a questionable site.
These screen captures get analyzed automatically. Once processed, the shots are blurred out and then included in activity reports sent to your delegated accountability partner. The blurring is effective enough to not see any compromising images, but you’ll still be able to ascertain if an image is pornography or not.
The community around Covenant Eyes produces plenty of supplemental material that supports users. That content is one of the extras making the higher price worth it. You can find recovery guides, white papers, and free e-books to use.
Covenant Eyes Pros
- Cover limitless devices
- As many as 10 users on each account
- Reports and tracking done daily, weekly, and monthly
- Over a million users
- Modern technology
- Accountability partnerships available
Covenant Eyes Cons
- Lack of support group
- Numerous negative reviews about UX
- Among the pricier monthly subscriptions
Ever Accountable
Ever Accountable tracks your viewing and browsing history. You can designate an accountability partner who can see what you’re doing online. Other than that, the usefulness of this particular option is extremely limited.
Ever Accountable Pros
- None
Ever Accountable Cons
- Monitors only browsing history
- Lack of individual reporting for multiple users
- Not modernized
- Expensive
NetNanny
NetNanny has been available longer than Bark, but it also doesn’t feel nearly as polished. It does come with more features than Bark, however. These include app monitoring, screen time meters, and GPS monitoring, all with other features that emphasize blocking porn.
This is more limited in terms of privacy, however. You can monitor everything your kids looks up, so you won’t be alerted to just concerning interactions.
Support is available for easy set up. You can call them over the phone or use a live chat.
NetNanny Pros
- Very affordable as $54 per year covers five devices
- Parents able to lock phones via remote command
- Kids get to see how much screen time they have left
- Parents able to access via PC or phone
NetNanny Cons
- Won’t monitor social media
- Doesn’t detect predators
X3 Watch
This accountability software provides self-improvement tools that are effective. Users can send reports about their tracked activity to those holding them accountable.
One distinct aspect of X3 is its online video workshop that teaches you about this software and how to get help with your porn addiction. It’s actually simple to use if you don’t have personal experience with programs like this. The reports are simple but detailed. There are also instant alerts sent out to chosen accountability partners. In fact, the app will automatically send emails to accountability partners if you attempt to delete this software or alter account settings.
There are downsides to X3 Watch. The cost is higher than Covenant Eyes. There are no individual reports. It’s also dated. Even the X3 website seems like a trip back in time.
X3 Watch Pros
- Simple way to monitor someone you care about
X3 Watch Cons
- Operated by a religious group
- Dated
- One of the more costly options
- Lacks individual reporting for multiple users
Get Help
Even with technology and accountability, you might need professional therapy to truly defeat your porn addiction. Consult your health insurance or physician to get in contact with a mental health expert who can guide you to a better life.