10 Negative Effects of Porn on Your Brain, Body, Relationships, and Society
Think porn isn’t affecting you? Science says otherwise. Discover how your screen habits might be impacting your sex life, relationships, society—and your brain. Did you know that the average internet user spends over 40% of their waking hours online? Everything we consume communicates a message.
The Impact of Internet Consumption
So, does the media we consume online actually have an effect on us, or is it passively consumed and then quickly forgotten? Countless researchers have been asking similar questions since the dawn of the Internet, and according to their findings, yes, our internet consumption affects the way we think and behave. Studies are increasingly clear that what people consume online has the potential to affect them—both positively, and negatively.
Documented effects of general internet and social media usage include:
- Poorer mental health
- More negative body image
- Decreased in person social interactions
Pornography Consumption and Relationships
Considering that an estimated 91.5% of men and 60.2% of women consume porn, let’s take a few moments to examine how porn may be affecting its consumers. Can porn negatively impact you or have negative effects on your sexual health, mental health, and the health of our society? The short answer is yes.
One of the primary concerns is that porn can negatively impact relationships. According to a study that tracked couples over time, porn consumption was the second strongest indicator that a relationship would suffer. Dozens of studies have repeatedly shown that porn consumers tend to have lower relationship satisfaction and lower relationship quality.
Consumption Statistics by Gender
The following table illustrates the estimated prevalence of porn consumption among internet users:
| Group | Estimated Consumption Percentage |
|---|---|
| Men | 91.5% |
| Women | 60.2% |
Understanding the Consequences
Everything we consume online has the potential to affect us. From poorer mental health to relationship dissatisfaction, the media we choose to view communicates a message that shapes our behavior and interactions with society.