Pornography, sexual addiction, and human trafficking are highly controversial topics, almost like tobacco in the 1960s.

While many researchers stand strong in affirming porn’s negative impact on physical and mental health, others are advocating it. This can make it difficult to know which sources and statistics to believe.

Often times those promoting pornography focus on short term benefits such as “feeling happier after watching porn” and ignore the serious long term consequences.

The following 101+ statistics will give you a detailed understanding of the personal and social impacts of pornography and the very real benefits of recovery.

Note: Many of the statistics do not contain the original source and we apologize for the inconvenience. We are working to add them all ASAP, however if you have difficulty finding the original source, please reach out and we can assist. 

THE EPIDEMIC-LEVELS OF PORN USE

1. 56% of divorces report obsessive use / 70% total divorces / 60 % of legal filings
2. 47% of men report their viewing is getting darker
3. 25% of all online searches and 35% of all downloads are related to pornography.
4. 47% of families in the United States reported that pornography is a problem in their home. According to the National Coalition for the Protection of Children & Families, 2010,
5.  68% of divorce cases involve one party meeting someone over the Internet,
6. 96 hours a year watching on average/ low end
7. A Study on Australians ages 15-29 found that 100% of the men (82% of women) had viewed porn. Also, 69 percent of males and 23 percent of females first viewed porn at age 13 or younger. In addition this study reported that more frequent pornography viewing correlated with mental health problems.
8. The estimated number of people who have a sexual addiction in the United States alone: 12 to 30 million.
9. 66% of Internet-using 18- to 34-year-old men look at online pornography at least once a month.
10. The percentage of internet sites that are pornographic in nature right now: 12%.
11. 2.5 billion emails per day are pornographic related in some way.
12.  66% of Internet-using 18- to 34-year-old men look at online pornography at least once a month.
13. 94% of sex addicts have filmed themselves having sex.
14. 3 out of 4 addicts have admitted that they regularly post naked photos of themselves online.
15. 73% of women and 98% of men reported internet porn use in the last 6 months, with 31% of internet porn users presenting anxiety symptoms when deprived of porn (source).
16. More than half of the men who identify themselves as Evangelical Christian admit that they have an addiction to pornography and used it in the last week for self satisfaction.
17. 62% of pastors struggle with porn addiction

 

The Economics of The Porn Industry

1. $184,500 spent every minute
2. The pornography industry in the US generates $12 billion of revenue per year.
3. A dated study from 2006 shows the porn industry worth an estimated $97 billion dollars, globally, however, it has only increased.
4. Stolen (or pirated) porn is estimated to impact the adult industry by about $2 billion a year.
5. 1.5 million users have sell on the porn site OnlyFans
6. In the United States alone, two hard-core pornographic movies are released every hour.
7. It is estimated that just in San Fernando Valley, the industry employs 20,000 people.
8. Mindgeek alone (which owns many of the largest porn sites) is valued at $1.69 billion
9. 500,000 new users join OnlyFans every day

 

Porn, Trafficking, and Youth 

So just how pervasive is the porn epidemic among teens and children? 

Here are a few startling statistics on the consumption of pornography by children and teens (Keep in mind, these statistics, many of which are pre-COVID have only increased since the start of the pandemic)

For more information on the effects on youth and prevention see this article: https://fightthebeast.org/blogs/articles/40-things-all-parents-need-to-know-about-porn-the-effects-on-children-teens

1. The average child is now first exposed to Internet porn at age 11.
2.  Under the age of 10 accounts for 22% of the porn consumption of minors
3. “57% of teens search out porn at least monthly”
4. 51% of male students and 32% of female students first viewed porn before their teenage years.
5. The first exposure to pornography among men is 12 years old, on average.
6. 10% of children in the 7th grade have stated that they are watching enough porn to be concerned that they may have an addiction issue and not be able to stop.
7. Under the age of 10 now account for 22% of online porn consumption under 18 -years old.
8. “90% of teens are either encouraging, accepting, or neutral when they talk about porn with their friends”
9. The Crimes against Children Research Center says that 1 in 5 teenagers have received a sexual solicitation via the web.
10. Only “about 25 percent of the youth who encountered a sexual approach or solicitation told a parent.”
11. “Nearly 27% of teens receive sexts”
12. Around 15% are sending them.
13. One out of 7 kids have received a solicitation of porn and there are 100K websites that offer illegal child pornography.
14. “79 percent of young people’s unwanted exposure to pornography occurs in the home.”
15. “Per Google Analytics, pornography searches increase by 4,700% released a report when children are out of school.”
16. Victims of childhood sexual abuse often repeat a pattern of abuse in a subconscious attempt to gain control over their childhood trauma
17. The most common two methods of first exposure are 1) accidental online and 2) exposure by a friend or relative

PORN IN THE WORKPLACE

1. 25%  of adults reported looking at porn in the workplace
2. 70% of Internet pornographic traffic occurs during the 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Workday.
3. The peak time for porn is 1 am with 4pm being second highest
4. Two out of every three human resources workers had discovered porn on the computers of employees
5. Porn consumption is shown to increase disruptive and unethical behaviors such as poor male-female work relationships and harassment cases

 

VIOLENCE PORTRAYED IN PORN

1. 88% of porn contains physical violence, 98% of which was directed towards the women
2. 48.7% showed verbal aggression, primarily name calling.

 

LEGAL ISSUES & TRAFFICKING

1. 70% of female trafficking victims are trafficked into the commercial sex industry, including porn, stripping and legal brothels.
2. 4.8 MILLION people are trapped in forced sexual exploitation globally
3. A 2015 meta-analysis of 22 studies from seven countries found that internationally the consumption of pornography was significantly associated with increases in verbal and physical aggression, among males and females alike.
4. Human trafficking is the fastest growing criminal enterprise of the 21st century.
5. 1/3 of total daily searches on porn sites are for “teen porn.” ([121] Watson, Connie. “The Globalization of Sex.” CBC News. CBC/Radio Canada, 18 June 2009. Web. 06 Jan. 2015. )

 

THE WOMEN IN PORN

1. 83% of women who have worked in porn report having also worked in strip clubs.
2. A study [58] that examined the mental health of female porn performers in California revealed that women in porn experience the following: Child victims of rape: 37% Foster care as children: 21% Rape as adults: 27% Met criteria for Depression: 33% Lived in poverty in the past 12 months: 50% Domestic violence in the past 12 months: 34% (Grudzen CR1, Meeker D, Torres JM, Du Q, Morrison RS, Andersen RM, Gelberg L. Comparison of the mental health of female adult film performers and other young women in California.)

 

MEDICAL SYMPTOMS LINKED TO PORN

Hypofrontality:

1. Defined as: “Erosion of the prefrontal cortex, similar to drug use, putting adults in a more emotional and reactive state. It predisposes an individual to behave compulsively and make poor decisions.” Watching pornography frequently strengthens the limbic system pathways resulting in more impulsive and unhealthy behaviors.

 

Less or Eroded Gray Matter

1. 1. Gray matter volume of the right caudate of the striatum is smaller with higher pornography use
   2. “The brain of a porn addict looks similar to – and perhaps even worse than – a drug addict’s. A normal brain has the topography of a beach ball… nice and smooth. In stark contrast is the Swiss-cheese-like surface of a porn addict’s brain.”
   3. There is a strong correlation and perhaps causation between brain functionality and frequent use of internet porn. Read the study here.  Another 2013 study reveals that porn users have damaged and shrunken frontal lobes.
   4. Gray matter deficits and altered resting-state connectivity in the superior temporal gyrus among individuals with problematic hypersexual behavior (2018) – fMRI study. Summary: …study showed gray matter deficits and altered functional connectivity in the temporal gyrus among individuals with PHB (sex addicts). More importantly, the diminished structure and functional connectivity were negatively correlated with the severity of PHB. These findings provide new insights into the underlying neural mechanisms of PHB.
   5. Gray matter volume differences in impulse control and addictive disorders (Draps et al., 2020) – Excerpts: Affected individuals compulsive sexual behavior disorder (CSBD), gambling disorder (GD), and alcohol use disorder (AUD) compared to controls showed smaller GMVs in the left frontal pole, specifically in the orbitofrontal cortex… Higher severity of CSBD symptoms was correlated with decreased GMV in the right anterior cingulate gyrus… Our findings suggest similarities between specific impulse control disorders and addictions.

 

Erectile dysfunction & Habituation 

1. Has increased to 25% in men under 40
2. Porn induced erectile dysfunction has unique symptoms such as masturbation induced injuries or sensitivity loss
3. According to a study done by the Naval Medial Center of San Diego, men who view pornography are more likely to suffer from erectile dysfunction.
4. Another study in 2007 by Janssen and Bancroft showed high exposure to porn caused lower reponsiveness to “vanilla sex” and individuals needed more novelty and variation in order to perform (called process called habituation)
5. ‘‘It’s hard to know exactly how many young men are suffering from porn-induced ED. But it’s clear that this is a new phenomenon, and it’s not rare.” (Abraham Morgentaler, Harvard urology professor and author of Why Men Fake It: The Totally Unexpected Truth About Men and Sex)
6. Around 2008/2009, people started surfacing on the internet who were freaked out that they had erectile dysfunction, but at the same time they could get a solid erection to varying degrees of extreme porn with the help of some good old “ deathgrip” [masturbation]
7. In a 2014 case of a man suffering from abnormally low sexual desire for partnered sex, fetishes and erectile disfunction was prescribed a 6-week absinence from porn and masterbation.  After 8 months he reported successful sex and orgasm and was enjoying ‘good sexual practices’
8. In a 2016 review of six studies to determine if internet porn was causing ED it was found that ED rate of men under 40 increased 1000% in the previous 15 years.
9. The survey by the European Association of Urology finds only 65 percent of men say sex with a partner is more stimulating than viewing it on a screen. The group adds 23 percent of men under 35 report having some level of erectile dysfunction.
10. Porn and sexual problems? This list contains over 40 studies linking porn use/porn addiction to sexual problems and lower arousal to sexual stimuli. The first 7 studies in the list demonstrate causation, as participants eliminated porn use and healed chronic sexual dysfunctions

Adrenal fatigue:

Here is a definition from adrenalfatigue.org:

“During adrenal fatigue your adrenal glands function, but not well enough to maintain optimal homeostasis because their output of regulatory hormones has been diminished – usually by over-stimulation.* Over-stimulation of your adrenals can be caused either by a very intense single stress, or by chronic or repeated stresses that have a cumulative effect.”

1. Over stimulation can be caused by any adrenaline simulating event including arousal and ejaculation. It can also be caused as a result of stress from not having access to an addiction (i.e. porn) or breaking your normal addiction routine. This is often why the first few days of recovery are difficult.

The symptoms of adrenal fatigue include:

• You feel tired even after a full nights sleep
• You are feeling rundown or overwhelmed.
• You have difficulty coming back from stress or illness.
• You have food cravings
• You rely on substances or stimulants (i.e. porn, coffee, etc.)  to “get going” or “keep going”
• Brain fog or lack of mental clarity
• You feel more awake, alert and energetic in the evenings than all day
• Increased physical anxiety/anxiousness

Masturbation causes a loss of nutrients:

Semen largely comprises albumin protein structures and free amino acids. Around 50% by weight of semen content is composed of proteins. It also contains:

• Fructose sugar
• Ascorbic acid (a.k.a., Vitamin C)
• Citric acid
• Enzymes
• Protein
• Phosphate and bicarbonate buffers (bases)
• Zinc

How much nutrient loss depends on frequency and amount of ejaculate expelled.

Hormone imbalance:

Frequent ejaculation by any method can lead to significant hormone imbalance. Ejaculation increases the hormones DHT (responsible for hair loss), acetylcholine, dopamine and serotonin. Abnormally high levels of sex hormones can cause changes to your body.  

 

EMOTIONAL/MENTAL ISSUES

1. It is common among those with Bipolar Disorder to engage in high-risk sexual activities during manic states
2. Victims of childhood sexual abuse often repeat a pattern of abuse in a subconscious attempt to gain control over their childhood trauma
3. People with Borderline Personality Disorder engage in unsafe sexual activities as a general pattern of self-injurious behavior
4. Men with Aspergers Syndrome often exhibit out-of-control sexual behaviors.
5. Sex addiction is not about physical contact but as a way of alleviating pain, relief from depression or anxiety, or a form of escapism, addicts tend to avoid problems through sex.
6. As people grow older, issues with medication may cause sexual addictions or the inability to control sexual desires.

 

ALTERED SEXUAL TASTES

1. Many begin viewing porn that aligns with their moral and sexual tastes, but porn has the ability to alter sexual preferences over time and cause the viewer to believe these tastes where natural according to this study published by the Journal of Adolescent Health in 2000
2. In a pre-internet study published in 1988 subjects were exposed to nonviolent porn for one hour a day for sex consecutive weeks.  Two weeks later they were given a choice of material to watch.  The subjects showed little interest in viewing nonviolent porn, but chose to view bondage, sadomasochism and bestiality content.
3. It can also have an influence on gender dysphoria and transition to homosexuality

 

RELATIONSHIP ISSUES & PORN

1. People with porn addictions tend to eschew their responsibilities, losing track of things that are important to them in pursuit of porn
2. People with porn addictions will sacrifice some of their personal intimacy to watch pornography
3. If you are in a relationship and have children with someone, their pornography addiction could take away from time that they could spend with your kids
4. People with porn addictions are preoccupied with sexual thoughts throughout the day. This could cause changes in the way that they perceive you or expect you to behave
5. Sex addicts lose time to their addiction, becoming preoccupied with their thoughts about sex and sexual materials that they have at their disposal. Everything comes after their addictions have been satisfied.
6. A vast majority of sex addicts will rarely be single and often have a history of cheating within their relationships.
7. 7 out of 10 married sex addicts say that they’ve been able to convince their spouse to participate in swinging activities.

 

Effects on Partner

1. 80% suffer from depression
2. 40% withdraw their emotional connections
3. 60% develop an eating disorder
4. The most common feeling that a partner with a sexual addiction has is betrayal. The most common feeling that an addict has is shame
5. Couples that watch porn together are 2 to 3 times more likely to get divorced

 

Adultery

1. Pornography has been show to increase marital infidelity by 300% according to this 2004  study.

 

Love 

1. A study done by the University of Arkansas’ psychology department shows porn users feel less love for their spouse.

 

Domestic Violence Link to Porn

1. The more people use pornography the more likely they are to believe that violence against women is acceptable accorning to this study.
2. See this page for over 100 studies linking porn use to sexual aggression, coercion & violence and an extensive critique of the often-repeated assertion that an increased availability of porn has resulted in decreased rape rates.
3. More than 39% of women surveyed reported that they were the victim of unwanted violence (slapping, choking, etc.) during consensual sex.

 

Sexless Marriage

1. Marriages with abuse, porn use, or where a wife feels used during sex are also at risk for sexlessness (we imagine that the reverse is also likely true, but we did not survey men). When people feel used and discarded, having sex intensifies these feelings of rejection. Eventually people just give up.

 

Marriages in which the wife doesn’t orgasm and doesn’t feel close during sex (7x more likely to one day become a sexless marriage)

Marriages in which the wife endures sexual pain and doesn’t feel close to her husband during sex (five times more likely to one day become a sexless marriage)

(From a survey of over twenty thousand women “Are You at Risk of a Sexless Marriage?”)

 

Reduced Sexual Satisfaction

Porn’s effects on relationships? Over 80 studies link porn use to less sexual and relationship satisfaction. (As far as we know all studies involving males have reported more porn use linked to poorer sexual or relationship satisfaction.)

 

ADDITIONAL REPORTED SYMPTOMS:

In our own poll of 340 men, the top consistently reported symptoms are:  

1. Decreased Emotional Awareness
2. Increased Irritability
3. Unhealthy relationship with self
4. ADHD
5. Attention and Motivation Issues
6. Decreased Empathy
7. Guilt, Shame
8. Difficulty loving or feeling loved
9. Lack of connection
10. Difficulty sleeping
11. No Fitness/Lack of
12. Less likely to find and keep a partner
13. Seeking gratification
14. Objectifying and mistreating others
15. Normalization of sexual violence and aggression
16. Lack of self-control. Higher chance of engaging in high-risk behaviors
17. Unwanted/inappropriate sexual thoughts
18. Reduced physical sensation
19. Emotional numbness
20. Spiritual disconnect
21. Anxiety
22. Fatigue or feeling drained
23. Social anxiety
24. Developing unwanted fetish/fetishes, Increased intensity or watching darker content than you used to
25. Difficulty speaking with attractive women

 

REPORTED BENEFITS OF RECOVERY THROUGH FIGHT THE BEAST:

Client data and testimonials: 

1. “My focus has improved significantly.”
2. “My productivity has improved dramatically.”
3. “My mental health is so much better, and I no longer feel depressed.”
4. “My self-control has improved significantly, and I now make better choices.”
5. “My values have changed in a good way.  If something isn’t right, I take the time to make it right.”
6. “I feel a lot more clarity and less distraction.”
7. “I’m making better eye contact with people, and I feel more confident in social situations.”
8. “I feel better about myself.”
9. “My exercise workouts have improved.”
10. “I have lost so much weight that everyone keeps asking me, ‘What diet are you on?’ The truth? The porn diet. It’s changed everything!”
11. “I went from seeing nobody and being really depressed about a lack of intimacy, to having a healthy sex life and an extremely promising relationship.”
12. “I feel like a better parent. I am able to bond with my daughter much better than before.”
13. “I can deal with challenges more effectively.”
14. “I respect people more in general, but I especially appreciate the beauty in the opposite sex.”
15. “I don’t feel the need to rush. I enjoy taking the time to develop a conversation, and I enjoy socializing more than I have in a long time.”