It’s no secret that the digital age has made pornography more accessible and pervasive than ever. Just a click or tap away, technology has ushered porn into the mainstream culture where it has become increasingly accepted.
There have been numerous studies and stats compiled in recent years to help us understand more about who is using pornography and its effects. Below is a compilation based on a few of the current studies along with some helpful sites for pornography addiction.
The intention behind this article is to bring awareness, show scientific evidence of the damages of porn, and provide hope. I’ve seen first-hand how porn can tear relationships apart. I know too many Christians who are “hiding” their addiction out of shame. I am fortunate to attend a church that offers help for those who are struggling with the effects of porn addiction. However, many churches do not offer anything, leaving those who struggle to remain in darkness.
There is hope with the light of God’s love and forgiveness, but the first step is acknowledging porn for what it is: A LIE. Human beings are designed for intimacy and relationship. Porn is a counterfeit for what we were designed for. It is warped, degrading, and isolating. Don’t believe me? Take a look at the stats.
Pornhub is the internet’s largest portal of porn. Founded in 2007, it has grown to hold over five million videos viewed by over 75 million visitors a day. (Forbes, May 25, 2017)
Pornhub showed the following numbers from 2014.
Please keep in mind this is just one site, however, it is worldwide.
- Total visits: 18.35 billion
- Number of videos viewed: 78.9 billion; 11 videos for every man, woman, and child on earth.
- The most searched term: Teen
- 23% of Pornhub’s viewers are women
- The U.S. is Number 1 in per capita page views.
- Average viewing time by an American: 9 minutes and 40 seconds.
- 45% of porn is viewed on smartphones, 44% on desktop PCs, and the rest on tablets.
- On Christmas day, porn traffic drops by 18%.
- Porn traffic on the Superbowl dropped 22%
Pornhub, 2014 year in review, January 7, 2015
Worldwide stats
- 30% of all internet traffic is pornography.
- The world’s largest porn site transfers 29 petabytes of porn a month
- In the U.S., 52% of pornography is accessed on smartphones; 10% on tablets.
- Worldwide, 51% of porn is accessed on desktop computers; 49% on smartphones and tablets.
The Inquisitr, December 26, 2013
In the US
Who is using porn?
Is porn truly unhealthy?
What are the results of the increase in porn?
In April 2016 Barna Group released its landmark study after interviewing thousands of American teens, young adults and older adults about their views on and use of pornography. The following stats are taken mainly from this survey, but also in combination with other sources and studies.
Women 25+
- 13% of women admit to accessing porn at work
- 70% of women keep their cyber activities secret
- 17% of all women struggle with porn addiction
- 9.4 million women view porn monthly**
A growing number of women are using what is referred to as erotica. Pornography generally deals with objectification, where as, erotica forms a relational connection. The rise in e-reader sales and the popularity and acceptance of erotic fiction. E.L. James’. bondage-themed Fifty Shades of Grey and its two sequels have brought the genre into the mainstream.
The statistics show that:
- Women favor chat rooms 2x more than men.
- 1 of 3 visitors of all adult web sites is a woman.
Practicing Christian Females 25+
5% use porn (2013 annual report on Covent Eyes states 20%)
Men 25+
Men use porn more frequently than women by a wide margin. Four times as many male adults 25+ use porn than female adults (47% compared to 12%).
Men admitting to accessing porn at work: 20%**
US adults who regularly visit internet pornography websites: 40 million
55% of men use porn.
Practicing Christian Males 25+
23% use porn
Teen Females (13-24)
36% use porn
Practicing Christian Teen (13-24)
13% use porn
Teen Males (13-24)
72% use porn
Practicing Christian Teen Males (13-24)
41% use porn
Young Adults (18-24)
Among each of the generational groups, young adults 18-24 are the most frequent porn users. Almost six in 10 young adults (57%) seek out porn either daily, weekly or monthly.
Young Adults Use More Porn—and are Less Likely to Say It’s Bad for Society
Around half of adults 25 and older say viewing porn is wrong (54%), and among teens and young adults 13-24, only a third say viewing porn is wrong (32%).
Pastors
- Most pastors (57%) and youth pastors (64%) admit they have struggled with porn, either currently or in the past.
- Overall, 21% of youth pastors and 14% of pastors admit they currently struggle with using porn.
- About 12% of youth pastors and 5% of pastors say they are addicted to porn
- 87% of pastors who use porn feel a great sense of shame about it.
- 55% of pastors who use porn say they live in constant fear of being discovered
Although these numbers might be shocking, practicing Christians are more than three times less likely to use porn than other teens and adults (13% compared to 42%), and young adults (57%) are much more likely than both teens (37%) or adults 25+ (29%) to be a frequent porn user.
Effect of Porn Use
An article in HuffPost, January 7, 2015, states 87% said that their partner’s online cheating (by porn or other means on the internet) had a negative effect on their relationship. 41% called their partner’s online cheating significant, while 35% said it caused an end to the relationship. From a survey taken by Robert Weiss, a counselor who works with sex addiction.
I highly recommend reading the scientific research revealed in “Fight the New Drug: 15 Scientifically Proven Reasons Why Porn Isn’t Healthy for Viewers or Society”.
The reasons are as follows (read article for scientific research):
- Porn can change and rewire your brain
- A porn habit can escalate into twisted territory
- Porn can get addictive
- Porn can affect your sexual tastes
- Porn can affect your brain (similar to a drug)
- Porn can damage your sex-life
- Porn is full of lies
- Porn can damage love
- Porn can leave you lonely
- Porn can hurt your partner
- Porn can warp a healthy view of sex
- Porn is inseparably linked to prostitution and sex trafficking
- Porn can seriously hurt your family and personal life
- Porn is connected to violence
- Porn is changing to be more shocking and hardcore than ever
The internet is a great vehicle for pornography because it’s accessible and anonymous. We must consider seriously the effects porn is having on individuals and societies at large. Our youth’s brains are becoming rewired in how they view sex and relationships. It is time to shine the light on the immense damages of porn. Every human being deserves God’s design for real love and intimacy without the toxicity of porn.
RESOURCES
If you or someone you love is struggling with porn, below is a list of some great, discrete online resources to get help.
http://dirtygirlsministries.com/
Dear readers, I have included a free downloadable PDF article from an author friend, Jonathan Thorn who spent 9 years helping addicts including teenage sex offenders. Click here: FREE DOWNLOAD
Please use the comments below to share your thoughts. You may also email me.
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This article also appears on Southern California Christian Voice. Please check out this amazing news hub for Christians!
Resources: * https://www.barna.com/research/porn-in-the-digital-age-new-research-reveals-10-trends/, https://www.barna.com/the-porn-phenomenon/, ** http://www.sagu.edu/thoughthub/pornography-statistics-who-uses-pornography, *** http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/24/baby-boomers-erotica-_n_5201284.html, †http://fightthenewdrug.org/3-reasons-why-watching-porn-is-harmful/
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Beckie — thank you for taking this important issue head on. The stats you provide are alarming. I also like the way you provide a solution and ways people can seek help.. This is a real problem facing us. Thanks
Del
Del, I’ve been praying about writing on this subject for a few years. Truly, I could write a book with what I have learned. But the most important lesson is this: God is a loving, merciful God of healing. Porn is a tough addiction, but nothing is too hard for God.
Thanks!
Though these statistics are shocking, there is hope and lots of help. I have linked a free resource I authored and I hope it helps. Thanks for sharing. http://www.christianstressmanagement.com/2016/03/step-1-free-christian-addiction.html
Very good insight on pornography, an evil wind blowing across the globe.
Well done.
Thank you for reading. You are so right to say it is a global problem thanks to the internet.
Blessings!
Such a tough issue, but one that definitely needs to be addressed. I never realized until I read your article here, Beckie, that the statistics for porn use are so high! Man! Now that is truly an eye-opener. I pray that your references here will help someone begin to deal with their porn addiction, realizing how damaging it can be to both mind and soul.
Blessings!
Martha, I know that many aren’t aware of these stats, which is one of the reasons I wanted to do this article. I’m around teens and young adults often, so I hear and see things. I want to do what I can to help them and anyone stuck in this insidious addiction.
Your pray was answered about helping someone begin to deal with this issue. I’ve had a few tell me. Praise the Lord!
Thanks for commenting.
These statistics are staggering and answer many questions as to what is happening all around us in this world. You are a courageous woman to take on this addiction publicly through your blog. Thank you! I now have information to share with some I have talked to about this problem. May God continue to guide and direct you as you offer information and advice to those seeking help. Bless you, Beckie!
Deborah, I’m so blessed by your comment and am very glad this post was helpful. I’m praying now for those you share it with.
Grace and peace to you, dear sister.
Very interesting article, Beckie. I had no idea that women struggled with it. Thank you for passing along this information. Great post!
Crickett, I’m glad this was helpful information for you. Thanks for stopping by.
Grace and peace to you and yours!
I’m sorry to be so slow getting a comment out on this article, Beckie, but I must applaud you for publishing this very well done, and vitally needed piece. It is one of the most, if not the most, ignored behavioral plagues that is weakening the Body of Christ in this nation today. Your stats regarding its prevalence were so important to include, as were the other resources you cited. It’s staggering how the enemy manages to take something God designed to be so incredibly strengthening in the primary relationship He created and turn it into a destructive virus.
Thank you for the work you did on this and the courage you exhibited in doing it, may God bless and multiply the fruit from it, and may He make it a source of inspiration and encouragement for others to engage this enemy along with you.
Ron, I agree with you about this issue being ignored by the Body of Christ. I have been praying about writing this article for a few years. I heard from a few people that reported their need for the resources. That makes the risk worth it. I also published it on http://socal-voice.com/ and http://onechristianvoice.com/.
Thanks for your encouragement and prayers that mean so much.
i am interesting with your article
Thanks for commenting. I hope you found the information helpful. I will have more helpful information coming soon.
Great article even though it can be so much more in depth. Have been porn free for the most part for about 10 years now. I’m so glad to not be a part of this epidemic as I used to and see the effects of it in my marriage. I pray this is a great ministry tool.
Dan,
Thanks for taking the time to comment. I’m so pleased to hear this article was helpful and to hear about your freedom from the chains of this issue. You are a living testimony to the power of God. I realize this article could have been more in depth. It was difficult to keep the word count down. There are many great books on this subject which allow for that 🙂 The websites that I give as resources have lists of some great books, articles and more.
May the Lord bless you and yours!
I couldn’t agree with you more. I’ve never been exposed to porn until someone I was involved with sent me links and pictures to porn sites he was visiting. It really scared me. I pray for those addicted. Thank you for writing this article.
Thanks for your words of affirmation and for taking the time to comment.
God bless!
I think Porn makes us selfish.
It links sex as a medium for pleasure rather than love.
Well, you indeed did well in describing its effects.
Siddharth Bhati, thank you for taking the time to read and comment. I agree that porn is selfish, degrading, and addictive. I pray that those caught in the cycle of this addiction will seek the help they need to be free to truly find the love they are looking for.
Blessings!
Really great survey Shoking .. the way you explain is very nice . Great Write – up
Thanks so much. I’m glad this was helpful. Blessing!
Wow thank you so much for this post. Bringing awareness to this terrible addiction is so important. Not a lot of people realize this is not just bad choices but truly a addictive habit that takes control of your life. flightministries.com
I’m glad you found this helpful. Thanks for taking the time to read and comment.
God bless you and your!
You as well 🙂