Over 100 quick stats and findings from an ever-growing body of research that details the effects of porn for individuals, relationships, and society.
One study that kept track of couples over time found that consuming porn was the second strongest predictor that a relationship would suffer.
Some experts have determined four major brain changes common to addicted brains—sensitization, desensitization, hypofrontality, and a malfunctioning stress system— all of which can be found in cases of pornography consumption.
A UK survey found that 44% of males aged 11–16 who consumed pornography reported that online pornography gave them ideas about the type of sex they wanted to try.
Approximately 91.5% of men and 60.2% of women report consuming porn in the past month, according to a 2020 study.
Porn consumption is linked to increased loneliness.
People who use porn as a self-soothing technique tend to have some of the lowest reports of emotional and mental wellbeing according to a 2017 study.
Research indicates that “hidden cam” videos are a common theme on porn sites, making it difficult to determine which videos are consensual and which are not.
Research suggests that frequent porn consumers are more likely to victim-blame survivors of sexual violence.
Research has found that therapy is an effective way to treat problematic pornography consumption.
According to one survey of nonconsensual pornography victims, 51% reported having suicidal thoughts due to the image-based abuse, and 93% reported experiencing severe emotional distress.
Research routinely shows that consuming porn is connected to poorer mental health.
According to a nationally representative survey of U.S. teens, 84.4% of 14 to 18-year-old males and 57% of 14 to 18-year-old females have viewed pornography.
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