In today’s increasingly wired world, it is easier than ever for people to gain access to pornography. Gone are the days of having to jump through hoops to find accessible porn. The advent of the internet has made porn available to people of all ages. While the numbers differ from source to source, the average amount of the internet devoted to porn sites is estimated to be between 4% and 12%. What is more telling is that about 13% of web searches and 20% of mobile searches are related to porn, indicating the strong presence that the industry has on the internet as a whole.
Because it is so easily accessible, it is no surprise that more minors are able to find porn. Although porn may be a contributing factor to the inability to cultivate healthy relationships and a clean mindset, not all users of porn are addicted to its use. Here are some useful facts that explain the prevalence of porn in society and its potential to cause issues with otherwise normally functioning people:
Topics Covered
SOURCES OF PORN:
It used to be that in order to access porn, you needed to purchase a magazine using identification or rent a film on television. These days, all that you need to do is hop on the internet or fire up your smartphone. The explosive growth of the internet has played an exponentially significant role in the rise of porn. Because of its increasing saturation, it is more likely that minors or other unassuming parties are exposed to the world of pornography. Many experts point out that exposure to porn as a child or teen can lead to unrealistic expectations about relationships, hampering the ability for people to form meaningful connections.
There are many sources for porn, removing barriers for most people to access it in a matter of seconds. Here are some of the most common sources for porn:
- Standard Internet Sites – The lion’s share of the porn market rests with the traditional porn internet sites. These sites stream porn at no price to viewers in exchange for advertising revenue. With high-quality porn just a click away, this is by far the most pervasive source of this material.
- Traditional Forms of Porn – The internet is now the king of porn distribution, in large part due to its easy accessibility and numerous free options. However, there is still a market for traditional forms of porn such as magazines and film. Studies have estimated that over 80% of adults between the ages of 18 and 49 had watched pornographic movies in their lifetime. Roughly the same amount of people had looked through pornographic print magazines.
- Tumblr – This networking website allows users to post and share a variety of multimedia content in a blog format for the world to see. While the site attracts a myriad of users, there is no doubt that it is a hotbed for porn. When examining the 200,000 most visited blogs on Tumblr, more than 10% of them are focused on sex-related content, despite the fact that the networking site is heavily marketed to teens.
- Instagram – This social media giant is the hipper and younger version of Facebook. While full nudity is prohibited on Instagram, that has not stopped it from allowing pretty much everything else.
- Snapchat – Even more hip than Instagram is Snapchat. The premise of Snapchat is that the messages disappear after they are viewed, making it a natural fit for users wanting to share porn.
ONLINE PORN STATS:
Some people still argue that porn addiction is not real. However, a true addiction is when the person has no control over the impulse to engage in the negative habit and this is exactly what happens over time as people consume more and more porn. This lack of control then begins to negatively affect every aspect of the person’s life, from their work to their family. As the addiction spirals out of control, the users often resort to illegal forms of the product to keep satisfying their urge and increasing the high that they receive.
Recent studies demonstrate that about 5–8% of the adult population is addicted to porn. This equates to about 11–12 hours of online porn viewing every week for those who are addicted and cannot control the urges.
What most experts find most unsettling is the rise of porn use in minors. The average age of the initial exposure to porn is only 11 years of age. Boys seek out porn more often than girls, with over 93% of boys and 62% of girls claiming to have viewed porn before the age of 18.
As a whole, 40 million Americans admit to regularly visiting internet porn sites. The most prevalent group of consumers is men between the ages of 35 and 49. However, porn is not limited to males. More than one-third of all online porn users are women. Exemplifying its penetration into the World Wide Web, 25% of all search engine prompts are related to sex.
It should be noted that as the internet continues to evolve at a breakneck speed, these numbers are always shifting. The bottom line is that online porn is extremely pervasive in today’s connected society. The immediate gratification associated with internet porn only serves to exacerbate its prevalence in nearly age group and across gender lines.
PORN REVENUES AND COSTS:
In the United States alone, the porn industry hauls in nearly $17 billion on an annual basis. Although the revenue stream is extremely significant, it is also important to consider the costs that this industry inflicts on society. Lost work productivity is the biggest financial cost of porn use. While it is difficult to pinpoint the exact dollar amounts and implications, there is also the associated cost of therapy as a result of porn addiction to consider.
PORN AND RELATIONSHIPS:
One common thread is that porn tends to create unrealistic expectations for men in their partners. Meanwhile, women are more likely to suffer from a lack of confidence in the bedroom and lower levels of self-esteem as a result of porn viewing. Overcoming these issues takes a careful balance.
NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF PORN:
Personal relationships are not the only thing that may suffer when the usage of porn begins to spiral out of control. Because these factors are not always a causal relationship, it can be difficult to ascertain which issue is the initiating factor. For example, some mental issues mean that you may be more likely to turn to porn as a coping mechanism while other problems come as a result of the addition. Figuring out the root cause of the problem will help to guide your treatment plan.
Some of the most common conditions that occur alongside porn addiction include smoking and tobacco use, alcoholism, anxiety, depression, mood disorders, and erectile dysfunction. Fill out a pornography addiction test to see if you might be addicted.
SIGNS OF PORN ADDICTION:
Regardless of if you have a compulsion or a full-fledged addiction to porn, it is a problem if it is negatively affecting your life. There are a variety of signs of porn addiction to look out for in order to determine if the usage of porn is becoming a serious issue. Some of the most common signs of porn addiction include:
- Inability to Stop – If you are unable to stop the compulsion to look at porn, this is a major red flag that the issue has evolved into more than just a hobby.
- Lost Time – As people become more drawn into the world of porn, it becomes harder and harder to step away. It is not unusual for people who are addicted to porn to lose large chunks of their day without even noticing because they are so caught up in the fantasy world.
- Lost Interest in Sex – The unrealistic expectations of sex caused by the overuse of porn can cause addicted people to lose interest in their normal sex life. One of the main culprits of this loss of interest is that the everyday partner is not viewed as being as attractive when compared to the porn actors.
- More Demanding in the Bedroom – Also related to the unrealistic expectations of sex brought about by excessive porn use is a more demanding demeanor in the bedroom. People who spend so much time immersed in the world of porn are more likely to become more demanding in the bedroom, often causing their partner to become self-conscious, hurt, and uncomfortable with the requests.
- Distracted and Angry – As the desire to watch more porn begins to intensify, the user may become distracted and angry if their cravings are not met. This distraction and feelings of anger and irritability can affect every part of your life.
- Losing Money – While the majority of porn is available at no cost, those that become addicted begin to rely on the more premium forms of entertainment to satisfy their needs. The more quality forms of porn come at a cost, increasing the chances that the addicted person develops financial issues as a result of their need to continue to up their content.
- Physical Pain – As you might imagine, sitting and staring at a computer screen for hours on end to meet the cravings may lead to a host of health problems.
PORN ADDICTION TREATMENT:
The good news is that when treated effectively, the prognosis is good for those who undergo treatment for their porn addiction. Like many other types of compulsive addictions, treatment protocols generally involve counseling and psychotherapy. One of the biggest challenges of treating those with porn addiction is the stigma associated with the problem. Unlike many other kinds of addictions, porn addicts are embarrassed to come forward with their problems.
However, once the problem has been identified and recognized, the treatment rates are extremely effective. Studies have shown that with the specialized treatment, porn addicts can reduce their use of offending material by as much as 92% after the initial regiment.
IN CONCLUSION:
On a global scale, the porn industry is worth an estimated $97 billion dollars. This means that there is no stopping this machine. As technology changes, it is clear that the distribution methods will continue to evolve. However, its infiltration in society is likely here to stay. Understanding the problems associated with excessive porn use and working to erase the stigma of addiction will go a long way in helping people to find relief. Check out these great porn addiction videos for more skills and inspiration.
