Decades of studies from respected institutions have demonstrated significant impacts of porn consumption on individuals, relationships, and society. No Porn November is all about giving visibility to these facts and empowering individuals to choose to be porn-free. Learn more by clicking here.
Every year during #RepTheMovement day, Fighters around the world come together to rep this movement for real love. It’s more than just a photo op and a great chance to get views on an IG story or Tiktok reel. This day is about collectively taking a stand against the normalization and acceptance of pornography and sexual exploitation in our society. And by repping, we’re making a significant impact by spreading awareness.
To the average person, porn may seem like an awkward topic to discuss, but it doesn’t have to be. At Fight the New Drug we are all sparking normal, healthy conversations about porn and its impacts.
Fight the New Drug is a non-religious and non-legislative organization that exists to provide individuals the opportunity to make an informed decision regarding pornography by raising awareness on its harmful effects using only science, facts, and personal accounts.
Decades of studies from respected institutions have demonstrated significant impacts of porn consumption for individuals, relationships, and society. Bold voices are continually needed to give visibility to porn’s harms.
Allow us to explain via this video:
What’s the issue?
Just like it took decades for society to believe the science proving that smoking cigarettes is harmful, we are learning a similar lesson with porn today.
And since we’re an awareness campaign, first and foremost, we’re sharing the science, research, and personal accounts that all point to the fact that porn is anything but harmless entertainment.
Here at Fight the New Drug, we’ve been raising awareness on the harmful effects of pornography since ’09. We’re a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and again, we’re also non-religious and non-legislative. We are not out to ban porn, or even talk about it from a moral perspective but to allow people to make an educated choice about it.
At the heart of what we do, our goal is to stop the demand for sexual exploitation and pornography by allowing educated people to choose for themselves, not to fuel the demand. And #RepTheMovement day you can let others know you are part of that mission.
And if right about now you’re asking what the facts of the issue are, you’ve come to the right place!
What are the facts?
Research has shown that porn negatively impacts the consumer’s brain, relationships, and our society as a whole. In our pornified world that sells the idea that porn is healthy for consumers and good for their relationships, the data tells a much different story.
Research indicates that porn consumers can become desensitized to porn, often needing to consume more porn, more extreme forms of porn, or consume porn more often in order to get the same response they once did. In fact one 2016 study, researchers found that 46.9% of respondents reported that, over time, they began watching pornography that had previously disinterested or even disgusted them.Wéry, A., & Billieux, J. (2016). Online sexual activities: An exploratory study of problematic and non-problematic usage patterns in a sample of men. Computers in Human Behavior, 56, 257-266. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2015.11.046Copy Banca, P., Morris, L. S., Mitchell, S., Harrison, N. A., Potenza, M. N., & Voon, V. (2016). Novelty, conditioning and attentional bias to sexual rewards. Journal of psychiatric research, 72, 91–101. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2015.10.017Copy
Check out our merch centered around porn’s impact on the brain to wear during #RepTheMovement.
Hundreds of studies also show that porn can be toxic to relationships. Porn is not a harmless pastime, especially when it’s hurting a romantic partner.
In a world where porn is so normalized, you’d never guess that it’s also directly tied to sex trafficking. Sex trafficking shares a variety of symbiotic connections to pornography. Even in the production of mainstream porn, sex trafficking can still occur—and it happens more often than most people think.Cole, S., & Maiberg, E. (2020). Pornhub doesn't care. Vice. Retrieved from https://www.vice.com/en/article/9393zp/how-pornhub-moderation-works-girls-do-pornCopy BBC News. (2020). GirlsDoPorn: Young women win legal battle over video con. BBC News. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-50982051Copy Trafficking is legally defined as a situation in which “a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such act has not attained 18 years of age.”Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) of 2000, Pub. L. No. 106–386, Section 102(a), 114 Stat. 1464. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-106hr3244enr/pdf/BILLS-106hr3244enr.pdfCopy
As long as there’s a demand for porn—especially porn that is extreme, abusive, or degrading—the porn industry will continue to exploit vulnerable people to meet that demand. Discover all the ways that porn and sex trafficking are connected.
Why does repping make a difference?
So #RepTheMovement, by now, you might be asking yourself, “But how does simply wearing a tee shirt actually make an impact on such a massive issue?
How do we build relationships, convey ideas, and spark social change, as humans? Through relational communication, right?
That’s why transparent conversations are an important part of what this movement is, and since 2009, we have specially designed merch that is eye-catching and conversation-starting. We’ve also created content that is informative, credible, cool, and shareable while paying particular attention to the messages we send through our resources so that they are as educational and approachable as possible.
You’re not reading this article by accident. You didn’t visit our website by some fluke (probably).
You’re here because you saw a tee, or clicked a link, or read an article, and you’re wondering what this is all about. Millions of people, just like you, are having their minds and hearts opened to a new way of thinking about the issue, and #RepTheMovement day might be that day.
Our hope is that our resources and #RepTheMovement day inspire individuals to make the decision for themselves to take action and decrease the demand for sexual exploitation. And the best part about that is hundreds of thousands of people are making that decision daily, and they’re spreading the word right now and telling us all of the ways that this fight for love is growing—and ultimately that is changing our world.
This is how the revolution against a multi-billion dollar porn industry, with concerning influence over consumers’ minds and hearts begins. This is how we change the conversation around porn, one face-to-face conversation or post-share at a time. One by one, it might seem small, but together, our collective efforts are making (and have already made) a real difference.
All around the world, our generation and the next are starting to take notice of pornography’s harmful effects and are speaking out against it more than ever before. It is up to us to choose to speak up and speak out against sexual exploitation rather than turn a blind eye to the harmful epidemic impeding on our society. It is up to us to fight for love.
What does “repping the movement” actually do?
So, back to #RepTheMovement Day. The truth is, this day is so much more than just getting a tee, taking some pics, and sharing it with some friends. This is much bigger than that.
Repping this movement means letting the world know the stand you’re taking against porn and sexual exploitation. If you want to continue to further the impact you’re making, share the research we’ve gathered and made easily accessible and start conversations with your friends and family, share FTND’s translated resources for non-English speakers, or have us come and present in your community.
All of these things, no matter how small they seem, make a huge difference and visibly move the needle on an issue that is embedded within our culture.
What is Fight the New Drug actually doing to help?
Our organization is fueled by Fighters just like you purchasing conversation-starting gear or making donations. That support directly helps mobilize our education and awareness campaigns that reach millions of people. Your generosity makes it possible for us to help the middle school student realize they aren’t alone in their struggle. Your support provides resources to the family member unsure how to help. Your efforts help stop the clicks fueling sex trafficking.
If you want even more information about what you’re supporting by donating to Fight the New Drug and repping the movement, we break it all down in this article.
How can you help?
There are over 7.7 billion people in the world.
According to the world’s largest hardcore porn site, Pornhub, 42 billion videos were viewed on that site in 2019 alone. That would be if over five videos were viewed by every person on the planet.
If pornography is a global, estimated $97 billion industry, what can a single person—1 of 7.7 billion people—do to fight this?
The reality is a lot. One little drop can send out far-reaching ripples.
The first step to joining this global community is to become a Fighter by taking a stand against sexual exploitation. You can also sign up to partner with us on a monthly basis by joining Fighter Club! Your donation will allow us to continue spreading education on the harms of porn all over the world.
Next, share the facts and spark those conversations, and #RepTheMovement, even if it’s from someone asking about your tee while you’re out buying groceries. It all matters!
Ultimately, all the little steps add up to significant changes, and it’s all part of our global initiative to change the conversation around porn forever.
And the good news is we’ve already made a measurable impact. Are you in?
Support this resource
Thanks for reading our article! Fight the New Drug is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, which means the educational resources we create are made possible through donations from people like you. Join Fighter Club for as little as $10/month and help us educate on the harms of porn!
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