70 Percent of Gen Z Men Say Porn Was First Exposure to Sex

A new survey from British digital publication LADbible supports the notion that, for many young people, porn is their #1 sex educator. In a survey conducted by LADbible and consumer insights company ResearchBods in September, 45 percent of around 5,300 18-29 year olds in the UK shared that porn was one of their main sources of information about sex. Seventy percent of Gen Z men reported that porn was their first exposure to sex.

Key Survey Findings and Statistics

The survey highlights significant trends in how young adults consume adult content and how it shapes their understanding of relationships:

• 77 percent of respondents watch porn regularly.
• 63 percent of respondents said they saw porn before they were 16.
• Five percent of respondents saw porn before they were 10.
• 12 percent reported to have never seen it.
• 34 percent feel guilty after watching porn.

The Impact on Young Adults

It's not surprising, then, that 77 percent want more resources to navigate porn and sex. One in two men worry they consume too much adult content. Research suggests that perceived porn addiction can be psychologically distressing, although "porn addiction" isn't recognized by the latest Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).

Musician and actor Jordan Stephens said in a press release: "We know porn is controversial. It makes headlines, half of us use it as sex education, and we're all comparing ourselves to what we see on those screens." He continued that he and his partners are on a "mission to get honest about porn."

Educational Initiatives and Government Action

The survey release is in conjunction with the launch of For F*ck's Sake Productions, an in-house digital studio that will produce sex education content for young adults. LADbible partnered with several organizations, including the sex education charity Fumble, men's health charity Movember, and self-guided therapy program Pivotal Recovery.

This partnership is also asking the UK government to "take action" about the impacts of porn on young adults. They are urging the government to consider mandated sex and relationships education by specialists, not teachers, for 16-18 year olds, and additional support such as a national helpline or online hub for information. According to the UK's government website, relationships and sex education became mandatory for all secondary school students in 2020.

Addressing Real-Life Intimacy

"Porn can be a fun way for people to explore their sexuality, but it can become a problem when mainstream porn forms an idea of what real-life sexual intimacy should look like," CEO of Fumble, Lucy Whitehouse, said. "This is what we need to address — we need to speak about what's real, and what isn't — and we need to support young people as they explore their sexuality safely."