Pornography Use Among Young Adults in the United States
Pornography is defined as "sexually explicit media that are primarily intended to sexually arouse the audience." It exists in many forms across the internet including pictures, videos, audio, written materials, video games, and social media posts. A majority of the US population has intentionally viewed pornography before, with an even larger majority of US young adults viewing pornography regularly. Despite the widespread use of and support for pornography, viewing sexually explicit media can have many negative consequences.
Prevalence and the Pornography Industry
Support and public opinion for pornography have increased among young adults in the last several decades. One reason for the creation and circulation of pornography is the lucrative nature of the industry. In 2023, the Adult & Pornographic Websites industry in the United States was on track to match the revenue of the NCAA at $1.15 billion. This industry generates massive amounts of revenue, which continually fuel the creation and advertising of new pornography.
The following table summarizes the scope of pornography consumption and its economic impact in the United States:
| Metric | Statistic |
|---|---|
| Percentage of all websites containing pornography | 12% |
| American men viewing pornography in any given year | Approximately 69% |
| American women viewing pornography in any given year | Approximately 40% |
| US Adult & Pornographic Websites industry revenue (2023) | $1.15 billion |
Neuroscience of Pornography Addiction
Groundbreaking neuroscience study finds striking similarities in brains of porn and drug addicts. Dr. Valerie Voon, a global authority on addiction at the University of Cambridge, led research titled Neural Correlates of Sexual Cue Reactivity in Individuals with and without Compulsive Sexual Behaviours. The study found strong evidence of sensitization in compulsive porn users. Sensitization is hyper-reactivity to cues that lead to craving and then to use.
Dr. Voon stated: "There are clear differences in brain activity between patients who have compulsive sexual behavior and healthy volunteers. These differences mirror those of drug addicts." Researchers found that the younger test subjects had "enhanced reward circuit activity" when exposed to porn. This showed that higher dopamine spikes and greater reward sensitivity are major factors in teenagers being much more vulnerable to addiction and sexual conditioning.
Incentive Motivation and Brain Function
The study highlights a compelling finding: compulsive porn users craved porn (greater wanting) but did not have a higher sexual desire (liking) than those who didn’t view porn. This abnormal process is known as incentive motivation. The theory of incentive salience suggests that "it is possible to ‘want’ what is not expected to be liked, nor remembered to be liked, as well as what is not actually liked when obtained." Science has shown that drug addicts seek out their drug because they feel like they need it, not because they enjoy it.
Consequences of Consumption
Research confirms that using pornography correlates with several negative outcomes. These include:
- Decreased sex-life satisfaction
- Lack of positive self-image
- Increased chances of divorce
- Increased desire for rough or violent sex
Research also shows that both pornography viewers and pornography actors are likely to experience emotional health consequences. People consume pornography so frequently because the content has addictive properties and is widely marketed on the internet, making it easily accessed.
Risks for Adult Film Performers
Adult film performers—individuals who act professionally in pornography films—face a range of challenging issues. These include:
- Mental and emotional well-being issues such as depression, eating disorders, and even suicide
- Financial struggles
- Physical and sexual health risks, including STDs and body modifications
- Strained relationships
- The distressing reality of systematic support for sexual abuse and rape
Pornography is often overlooked largely due to the prevailing pro-porn sentiment among the general public. However, organizations are emerging to combat what has been deemed as the "porndemic."