#pornography — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #pornography, aggregated by home.social.
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Bonnie Blue’s baby outrage – and the dangers of our extreme attention economy | Arwa Mahdawi
By Arwa MahdawiThe porn performer and new mother has posted a video of herself holding a baby, while promoting sexual content. It exposes something horrifying about our era
#Pornography #Socialmedia #Digitalmedia #TheGuardian #ArwaMahdawi
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Bonnie Blue’s baby outrage – and the dangers of our extreme attention economy | Arwa Mahdawi
By Arwa MahdawiThe porn performer and new mother has posted a video of herself holding a baby, while promoting sexual content. It exposes something horrifying about our era
#Pornography #Socialmedia #Digitalmedia #TheGuardian #ArwaMahdawi
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Bonnie Blue’s baby outrage – and the dangers of our extreme attention economy | Arwa Mahdawi
By Arwa MahdawiThe porn performer and new mother has posted a video of herself holding a baby, while promoting sexual content. It exposes something horrifying about our era
#Pornography #Socialmedia #Digitalmedia #TheGuardian #ArwaMahdawi
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Bonnie Blue’s baby outrage – and the dangers of our extreme attention economy | Arwa Mahdawi
By Arwa MahdawiThe porn performer and new mother has posted a video of herself holding a baby, while promoting sexual content. It exposes something horrifying about our era
#Pornography #Socialmedia #Digitalmedia #TheGuardian #ArwaMahdawi
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Former teacher spared jail after seeking stories about underage boys
By Wade Stephens and Lua IkenasioA former school teacher in Victoria's north-west has been handed an 18-month community corrections order after pleading guilty over child abuse material.
#ChildAbuse #SexualOffences #Courts #Pornography #WadeStephens #LuaIkenasio
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Former teacher spared jail after seeking stories about underage boys
By Wade Stephens and Lua IkenasioA former school teacher in Victoria's north-west has been handed an 18-month community corrections order after pleading guilty over child abuse material.
#ChildAbuse #SexualOffences #Courts #Pornography #WadeStephens #LuaIkenasio
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Former teacher spared jail after seeking stories about underage boys
By Wade Stephens and Lua IkenasioA former school teacher in Victoria's north-west has been handed an 18-month community corrections order after pleading guilty over child abuse material.
#ChildAbuse #SexualOffences #Courts #Pornography #WadeStephens #LuaIkenasio
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Former teacher spared jail after seeking stories about underage boys
By Wade Stephens and Lua IkenasioA former school teacher in Victoria's north-west has been handed an 18-month community corrections order after pleading guilty over child abuse material.
#ChildAbuse #SexualOffences #Courts #Pornography #WadeStephens #LuaIkenasio
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Former teacher spared jail after seeking stories about underage boys
By Wade Stephens and Lua IkenasioA former school teacher in Victoria's north-west has been handed an 18-month community corrections order after pleading guilty over child abuse material.
#ChildAbuse #SexualOffences #Courts #Pornography #WadeStephens #LuaIkenasio
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Legalise porn, fund 30,000 drones: Inside Ukraine’s unusual war plan
Unlike many European countries, Ukraine criminalises the production and distribution of pornography. However, as its war with Russia…
#Ukraine #UA #Europe #Europa #EU #News #OnlyFans #pornography #russia-ukrainecrisis #Russia-Ukrainewar #taxauthorities
https://www.europesays.com/ukraine/38507/ -
Ukraine weighs legalizing pornography to raise war funds
Ukraine is reportedly considering legalizing sex work to help its battered economy and fund the war against Russia,…
#Ukraine #UA #Europe #Europa #EU #News #pornography #Russia #UkraineRussiaWar #VolodymyrZelensky
https://www.europesays.com/ukraine/38199/ -
Our new psychometric study on compulsive pornography use has been published in BMC Psychology. Congratulations to Terezie Babilonová and the rest of the team!
Freely available from: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-026-05328-1
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Our new psychometric study on compulsive pornography use has been published in BMC Psychology. Congratulations to Terezie Babilonová and the rest of the team!
Freely available from: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-026-05328-1
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Our new psychometric study on compulsive pornography use has been published in BMC Psychology. Congratulations to Terezie Babilonová and the rest of the team!
Freely available from: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-026-05328-1
-
Our new psychometric study on compulsive pornography use has been published in BMC Psychology. Congratulations to Terezie Babilonová and the rest of the team!
Freely available from: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-026-05328-1
-
Our new psychometric study on compulsive pornography use has been published in BMC Psychology. Congratulations to Terezie Babilonová and the rest of the team!
Freely available from: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-026-05328-1
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I was once ashamed to admit I’d been strangled nonconsensually during sex. Now I’m speaking up to save women’s lives | Hannah Ferguson
By Hannah FergusonYoung men are being taught that acts with the potential to kill are erotic. The Albanese government must urgently regulate big tech and criminalise pornography depicting strangulation
#Sexualconsent #Pornography #Sex #Youngpeople #Australianews #Sexuality #TheGuardian #HannahFerguson
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I was once ashamed to admit I’d been strangled nonconsensually during sex. Now I’m speaking up to save women’s lives | Hannah Ferguson
By Hannah FergusonYoung men are being taught that acts with the potential to kill are erotic. The Albanese government must urgently regulate big tech and criminalise pornography depicting strangulation
#Sexualconsent #Pornography #Sex #Youngpeople #Australianews #Sexuality #TheGuardian #HannahFerguson
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I was once ashamed to admit I’d been strangled nonconsensually during sex. Now I’m speaking up to save women’s lives | Hannah Ferguson
By Hannah FergusonYoung men are being taught that acts with the potential to kill are erotic. The Albanese government must urgently regulate big tech and criminalise pornography depicting strangulation
#Sexualconsent #Pornography #Sex #Youngpeople #Australianews #Sexuality #TheGuardian #HannahFerguson
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I was once ashamed to admit I’d been strangled nonconsensually during sex. Now I’m speaking up to save women’s lives | Hannah Ferguson https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/sep/02/choking-sexual-strangulation-non-consensual-asphyxiation-hannah-ferguson-comment-ntwnfb #SexualConsent #Pornography #Sex #YoungPeople #AustraliaNews #Sexuality
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I was once ashamed to admit I’d been strangled nonconsensually during sex. Now I’m speaking up to save women’s lives | Hannah Ferguson https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/sep/02/choking-sexual-strangulation-non-consensual-asphyxiation-hannah-ferguson-comment-ntwnfb #SexualConsent #Pornography #Sex #YoungPeople #AustraliaNews #Sexuality
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I was once ashamed to admit I’d been strangled nonconsensually during sex. Now I’m speaking up to save women’s lives | Hannah Ferguson https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/sep/02/choking-sexual-strangulation-non-consensual-asphyxiation-hannah-ferguson-comment-ntwnfb #SexualConsent #Pornography #Sex #YoungPeople #AustraliaNews #Sexuality
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I was once ashamed to admit I’d been strangled nonconsensually during sex. Now I’m speaking up to save women’s lives | Hannah Ferguson https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/sep/02/choking-sexual-strangulation-non-consensual-asphyxiation-hannah-ferguson-comment-ntwnfb #SexualConsent #Pornography #Sex #YoungPeople #AustraliaNews #Sexuality
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Antonio Rotondo found guilty of creating sexualised deepfake images of Brisbane high school students
A man who created and distributed sexualised deepfake images of current and former Brisbane high school students and…
#Australia #Brisbane #AI #AntonioRotondo #childexploitation #deepfake #deepfakes #Highschool #internet #online #police #pornography #privateschool #QLD #Queensland #sex #stalking #students #teachers
https://www.europesays.com/australia/84727/ -
Tanya Plibersek says Labor should consider UK-style ban on strangulation in pornography
Australia should be “very seriously” looking at banning depictions of strangulation or suffocation in pornography, says a senior…
#EuropeSays #Britain #Europe #EU #UK #AnthonyAlbanese #fixourfeeds #kelliesloane #pornography #SmartGlasses #stangle #strangulation #suffocation #tanyaplibersek #UnitedKingdom
https://www.europesays.com/britain/113877/ -
https://www.europesays.com/britain/113877/ Tanya Plibersek says Labor should consider UK-style ban on strangulation in pornography #AnthonyAlbanese #FixOurFeeds #KellieSloane #pornography #SmartGlasses #stangle #strangulation #suffocation #TanyaPlibersek #UK #UnitedKingdom
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Tanya Plibersek says Labor should consider UK-style ban on strangulation in pornography
Australia should be “very seriously” looking at banning depictions of strangulation or suffocation in pornography, says a senior…
#Australia #AU #Austrlia #fixourfeeds #pornography #smartglasses #stangle #strangulation #suffocation
https://www.europesays.com/australia/83127/ -
Tanya Plibersek says Labor should consider UK-style ban on strangulation in pornography https://www.byteseu.com/2320058/ #FixOurFeeds #GreatBritain #Pornography #SmartGlasses #stangle #strangulation #suffocation #UnitedKingdom
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Plibersek indicates support for ban on choking in pornography
By Ewa StaszewskaThe federal government is facing pressure to outlaw strangulation and suffocation in pornography, mimicking a UK ban.
#FederalGovernment #GovernmentandPolitics #FederalParliament #Pornography #EwaStaszewska
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Plibersek indicates support for ban on choking in pornography
By Ewa StaszewskaThe federal government is facing pressure to outlaw strangulation and suffocation in pornography, mimicking a UK ban.
#FederalGovernment #GovernmentandPolitics #FederalParliament #Pornography #EwaStaszewska
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Plibersek indicates support for ban on choking in pornography
By Ewa StaszewskaThe federal government is facing pressure to outlaw strangulation and suffocation in pornography, mimicking a UK ban.
#FederalGovernment #GovernmentandPolitics #FederalParliament #Pornography #EwaStaszewska
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Plibersek indicates support for ban on choking in pornography
By Ewa StaszewskaThe federal government is facing pressure to outlaw strangulation and suffocation in pornography, mimicking a UK ban.
#FederalGovernment #GovernmentandPolitics #FederalParliament #Pornography #EwaStaszewska
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Plibersek indicates support for ban on choking in pornography
By Ewa StaszewskaThe federal government is facing pressure to outlaw strangulation and suffocation in pornography, mimicking a UK ban.
#FederalGovernment #GovernmentandPolitics #FederalParliament #Pornography #EwaStaszewska
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Britain’s “ethical porn” controversy was not invented.
In 2014, government-endorsed sex-education guidance recommended “Planet Porn” for secondary schools. The material travelled into local education.
Now, England’s 2026 statutory guidance warns that pornography can normalise harmful sexual acts, alongside explicit warnings that strangulation can kill.
The paper trail is extraordinary.
https://thomaster.substack.com/p/englands-ethical-porn-problem-how
#UKPolitics #Education #RSE #Pornography #ChildSafeguarding #Investigation
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Variety: OnlyFans Millionaires: Site Says 5,076 Creators Have Earned More Than $1 Million to Date. “Since the 2016 launch of OnlyFans, which is known for its porn-friendly policies, 5,076 creators have made over $1 million on the platform, the company said Tuesday. In total, OnlyFans — which takes a 20% cut of gross revenue generated by the site — said it has paid out more than $30 billion […]
https://rbfirehose.com/2026/08/27/variety-onlyfans-millionaires-site-says-5076-creators-have-earned-more-than-1-million-to-date/ -
Variety: OnlyFans Millionaires: Site Says 5,076 Creators Have Earned More Than $1 Million to Date. “Since the 2016 launch of OnlyFans, which is known for its porn-friendly policies, 5,076 creators have made over $1 million on the platform, the company said Tuesday. In total, OnlyFans — which takes a 20% cut of gross revenue generated by the site — said it has paid out more than $30 billion […]
https://rbfirehose.com/2026/08/27/variety-onlyfans-millionaires-site-says-5076-creators-have-earned-more-than-1-million-to-date/ -
Variety: OnlyFans Millionaires: Site Says 5,076 Creators Have Earned More Than $1 Million to Date. “Since the 2016 launch of OnlyFans, which is known for its porn-friendly policies, 5,076 creators have made over $1 million on the platform, the company said Tuesday. In total, OnlyFans — which takes a 20% cut of gross revenue generated by the site — said it has paid out more than $30 billion […]
https://rbfirehose.com/2026/08/27/variety-onlyfans-millionaires-site-says-5076-creators-have-earned-more-than-1-million-to-date/ -
Variety: OnlyFans Millionaires: Site Says 5,076 Creators Have Earned More Than $1 Million to Date. “Since the 2016 launch of OnlyFans, which is known for its porn-friendly policies, 5,076 creators have made over $1 million on the platform, the company said Tuesday. In total, OnlyFans — which takes a 20% cut of gross revenue generated by the site — said it has paid out more than $30 billion […]
https://rbfirehose.com/2026/08/27/variety-onlyfans-millionaires-site-says-5076-creators-have-earned-more-than-1-million-to-date/ -
A 16-year-old girl has died from suspected sexual choking. How do we come to terms with this? | Lucy Clark
By Lucy ClarkWe can no longer deny that many children get their sex education from online pornography. But the normalisation of violence can lead to tragedy
#Australianews #Youngpeople #Pornography #Sexualconsent #TheGuardian #LucyClark
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A 16-year-old girl has died from suspected sexual choking. How do we come to terms with this? | Lucy Clark
By Lucy ClarkWe can no longer deny that many children get their sex education from online pornography. But the normalisation of violence can lead to tragedy
#Australianews #Youngpeople #Pornography #Sexualconsent #TheGuardian #LucyClark
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A 16-year-old girl has died from suspected sexual choking. How do we come to terms with this? | Lucy Clark
By Lucy ClarkWe can no longer deny that many children get their sex education from online pornography. But the normalisation of violence can lead to tragedy
#Australianews #Youngpeople #Pornography #Sexualconsent #TheGuardian #LucyClark
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A 16-year-old girl has died from suspected sexual choking. How do we come to terms with this? | Lucy Clark https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/aug/27/a-16-year-old-girl-has-died-from-suspected-sexual-choking-how-do-we-come-to-terms-with-this-ntwnfb #AustraliaNews #YoungPeople #Pornography #SexualConsent
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A 16-year-old girl has died from suspected sexual choking. How do we come to terms with this? | Lucy Clark https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/aug/27/a-16-year-old-girl-has-died-from-suspected-sexual-choking-how-do-we-come-to-terms-with-this-ntwnfb #AustraliaNews #YoungPeople #Pornography #SexualConsent
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A 16-year-old girl has died from suspected sexual choking. How do we come to terms with this? | Lucy Clark https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/aug/27/a-16-year-old-girl-has-died-from-suspected-sexual-choking-how-do-we-come-to-terms-with-this-ntwnfb #AustraliaNews #YoungPeople #Pornography #SexualConsent
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A 16-year-old girl has died from suspected sexual choking. How do we come to terms with this? | Lucy Clark https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/aug/27/a-16-year-old-girl-has-died-from-suspected-sexual-choking-how-do-we-come-to-terms-with-this-ntwnfb #AustraliaNews #YoungPeople #Pornography #SexualConsent
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RE: https://mamot.fr/@pluralistic/117121067240680707
Stop calling it "child porn."
If you don't like "#CSAM," you can refer to it as "#crime scene depictions" or similar.
Comparing these #illegal #images to #pornography does a disservice to both #sexWorkers and to crime #victims.
I believe you understand why #words are important, or I wouldn't have bothered.
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RE: https://mamot.fr/@pluralistic/117121067240680707
Stop calling it "child porn."
If you don't like "#CSAM," you can refer to it as "#crime scene depictions" or similar.
Comparing these #illegal #images to #pornography does a disservice to both #sexWorkers and to crime #victims.
I believe you understand why #words are important, or I wouldn't have bothered.
-
RE: https://mamot.fr/@pluralistic/117121067240680707
Stop calling it "child porn."
If you don't like "#CSAM," you can refer to it as "#crime scene depictions" or similar.
Comparing these #illegal #images to #pornography does a disservice to both #sexWorkers and to crime #victims.
I believe you understand why #words are important, or I wouldn't have bothered.
-
RE: https://mamot.fr/@pluralistic/117121067240680707
Stop calling it "child porn."
If you don't like "#CSAM," you can refer to it as "#crime scene depictions" or similar.
Comparing these #illegal #images to #pornography does a disservice to both #sexWorkers and to crime #victims.
I believe you understand why #words are important, or I wouldn't have bothered.
-
DATE: August 21, 2026 at 08:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: What psychological science actually says about pornography and addiction
URL: https://www.psypost.org/what-psychological-science-actually-says-about-pornography-and-addiction/
Porn is a topic we tend to avoid talking about – whether it be at school, work or around the dinner table.
But in Australia, roughly three-quarters of men (76%) and more than one-third of women (41%) report to have looked at pornographic material in the past year.
And among Australians aged 15-20, more than half (54%) of young men and one in seven (14%) young women report accessing porn weekly.
You may have heard the term “porn addiction” used to describe the excessive consumption of porn, in ways that disrupt a person’s life or the lives of those around them.
But is porn actually addictive? Current research suggests the answer is rather complicated.
The debate about porn
For many people, watching porn is a fairly typical behaviour. Others, however, consider it to be problematic.
A 2025 inquiry examined the effects of porn on people’s mental, emotional and physical health. It concluded porn is not inherently harmful. It may, however, impact people differently depending on what it depicts, who consumes it and how it is consumed.
Excessive porn use may become a problem if it affects how a person functions in daily life. To describe this, researchers and clinicians use the term problematic porn use. This refers to the inability to control one’s porn consumption despite repeated attempts to do so, and experiencing negative consequences as a result.
A global survey found 3%–15% of people potentially experience problematic porn use. And these difficulties are generally more common among men.
What causes it?
Problematic porn use is a complex issue and is influenced by various factors. These include pre-existing neurodevelopmental and mental health conditions, such as ADHD or depression. Certain personality traits such as impulsivity, low self-control and novelty seeking may also contribute.
Social and cultural factors such as low relationship satisfaction, social isolation and religious influences are also relevant. And people who feel lonely or lack emotional support are more at risk of developing this issue.
For many people with problematic porn use, consuming porn can become a vicious cycle that draws attention away from their relationships and daily responsibilities. For example, a person’s excessive porn use could see them lose their job due to poor performance. They may also become isolated from friends and family. These consequences often worsen their mental health and daily functioning, making it even harder to control their porn consumption.
People can experience problematic porn use in different ways. Researchers have suggested several key presentations including:
• compulsivity, defined as a strong, hard-to-resist urge for porn, particularly to relieve built-up tension or anxiety
•• impulsivity, which leads to speedy, spontaneous engagements with porn without considering consequences, for instance using porn on a work computer
•• emotional dysregulation, when a person turns to porn to manage difficult emotions such as stress, boredom or loneliness
•• addiction-like experiences, such as having intense cravings and/or needing more extreme content to feel satisfied.
•Is porn actually addictive?
Problematic porn use is currently considered a type of compulsive sexual behaviour disorder. Such disorders are characterised by an inability to control intense, repetitive sexual impulses for at least six months, to the point of neglecting daily responsibilities.
At this stage, problematic porn use is not formally recognised as an addiction. It is not included as an addiction in the WHO’s International Classification of Diseases or the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Illnesses, two international systems used to define and diagnose medical conditions.
Importantly, research on this topic has grown dramatically since these manuals came out. Evidence, including a recent international review, suggests problematic porn use can in some cases function like an addiction.
There are mounting calls to classify problematic porn use as a behavioural addiction, which would put it in the same category as other addictive online behaviours, such as gambling and gaming disorders. These behaviours light up similar areas of the brain’s reward system. However, activities such as drinking water trigger a similar response, so it’s important to consider this research in context.
The recent landmark social media addiction trial in the United States ruled that tech giants Meta and Google had engineered their platforms to be intentionally addictive. Similar design components are also used on many popular tube-sites – free platforms where porn videos are uploaded and watched. Modern internet porn offers unlimited access to sexual novelty by allowing people to “tab-switch” and continually seek new content during so-called “binges”. Research shows both behaviours may be risk factors for problematic porn use.
However, there is reason to be cautious about describing problematic porn use as an addiction. Research consistently shows many people self-identify as being addicted to porn, even if their use is infrequent and generally under control. This is due to moral incongruence, which is when a person holds strong moral or religious beliefs against pornography, but continues to use it. This can cause significant distress or a strong sense of feeling addicted, even with controlled use, and has been linked to several underlying mental health conditions.
What you can do
If you or a loved one feels like your porn use is problematic, here are some practical steps you can take.
• unpack what’s driving this behaviour to ensure you get the right treatment. For example, is it a genuine loss of control, moral conflicts about porn use and/or underlying conditions such as depression?
•• contact a qualified professional who specialises in problematic porn use. Psychologists can assess whether your consumption is more compulsive, impulsive or addiction-like. They can suggest evidence-based treatments, such as cognitive behavioural therapy. Sexologists and sex therapists can also help you understand how you engage with porn and develop healthier behaviours
•• be aware there is a significant amount of misinformation in this space, including from unqualified therapists and coaches who do not use evidence-based approaches
•• broach any conversation about porn use with respect and care, as this topic can carry strong feelings of shame, fear or guilt.
•For urgent support, you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636.
Correction: this article originally stated the number of young women accessing porn weekly was one-fifth. This has been corrected to state one in seven.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
URL: https://www.psypost.org/what-psychological-science-actually-says-about-pornography-and-addiction/
-------------------------------------------------
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #pornography #psychologicalscience #problematicpornuse #pornaddiction #mentalhealth #addictionresearch #behaviouraladdiction #lifeline #beyondblue #cognitivetherapy
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DATE: August 21, 2026 at 08:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: What psychological science actually says about pornography and addiction
URL: https://www.psypost.org/what-psychological-science-actually-says-about-pornography-and-addiction/
Porn is a topic we tend to avoid talking about – whether it be at school, work or around the dinner table.
But in Australia, roughly three-quarters of men (76%) and more than one-third of women (41%) report to have looked at pornographic material in the past year.
And among Australians aged 15-20, more than half (54%) of young men and one in seven (14%) young women report accessing porn weekly.
You may have heard the term “porn addiction” used to describe the excessive consumption of porn, in ways that disrupt a person’s life or the lives of those around them.
But is porn actually addictive? Current research suggests the answer is rather complicated.
The debate about porn
For many people, watching porn is a fairly typical behaviour. Others, however, consider it to be problematic.
A 2025 inquiry examined the effects of porn on people’s mental, emotional and physical health. It concluded porn is not inherently harmful. It may, however, impact people differently depending on what it depicts, who consumes it and how it is consumed.
Excessive porn use may become a problem if it affects how a person functions in daily life. To describe this, researchers and clinicians use the term problematic porn use. This refers to the inability to control one’s porn consumption despite repeated attempts to do so, and experiencing negative consequences as a result.
A global survey found 3%–15% of people potentially experience problematic porn use. And these difficulties are generally more common among men.
What causes it?
Problematic porn use is a complex issue and is influenced by various factors. These include pre-existing neurodevelopmental and mental health conditions, such as ADHD or depression. Certain personality traits such as impulsivity, low self-control and novelty seeking may also contribute.
Social and cultural factors such as low relationship satisfaction, social isolation and religious influences are also relevant. And people who feel lonely or lack emotional support are more at risk of developing this issue.
For many people with problematic porn use, consuming porn can become a vicious cycle that draws attention away from their relationships and daily responsibilities. For example, a person’s excessive porn use could see them lose their job due to poor performance. They may also become isolated from friends and family. These consequences often worsen their mental health and daily functioning, making it even harder to control their porn consumption.
People can experience problematic porn use in different ways. Researchers have suggested several key presentations including:
• compulsivity, defined as a strong, hard-to-resist urge for porn, particularly to relieve built-up tension or anxiety
•• impulsivity, which leads to speedy, spontaneous engagements with porn without considering consequences, for instance using porn on a work computer
•• emotional dysregulation, when a person turns to porn to manage difficult emotions such as stress, boredom or loneliness
•• addiction-like experiences, such as having intense cravings and/or needing more extreme content to feel satisfied.
•Is porn actually addictive?
Problematic porn use is currently considered a type of compulsive sexual behaviour disorder. Such disorders are characterised by an inability to control intense, repetitive sexual impulses for at least six months, to the point of neglecting daily responsibilities.
At this stage, problematic porn use is not formally recognised as an addiction. It is not included as an addiction in the WHO’s International Classification of Diseases or the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Illnesses, two international systems used to define and diagnose medical conditions.
Importantly, research on this topic has grown dramatically since these manuals came out. Evidence, including a recent international review, suggests problematic porn use can in some cases function like an addiction.
There are mounting calls to classify problematic porn use as a behavioural addiction, which would put it in the same category as other addictive online behaviours, such as gambling and gaming disorders. These behaviours light up similar areas of the brain’s reward system. However, activities such as drinking water trigger a similar response, so it’s important to consider this research in context.
The recent landmark social media addiction trial in the United States ruled that tech giants Meta and Google had engineered their platforms to be intentionally addictive. Similar design components are also used on many popular tube-sites – free platforms where porn videos are uploaded and watched. Modern internet porn offers unlimited access to sexual novelty by allowing people to “tab-switch” and continually seek new content during so-called “binges”. Research shows both behaviours may be risk factors for problematic porn use.
However, there is reason to be cautious about describing problematic porn use as an addiction. Research consistently shows many people self-identify as being addicted to porn, even if their use is infrequent and generally under control. This is due to moral incongruence, which is when a person holds strong moral or religious beliefs against pornography, but continues to use it. This can cause significant distress or a strong sense of feeling addicted, even with controlled use, and has been linked to several underlying mental health conditions.
What you can do
If you or a loved one feels like your porn use is problematic, here are some practical steps you can take.
• unpack what’s driving this behaviour to ensure you get the right treatment. For example, is it a genuine loss of control, moral conflicts about porn use and/or underlying conditions such as depression?
•• contact a qualified professional who specialises in problematic porn use. Psychologists can assess whether your consumption is more compulsive, impulsive or addiction-like. They can suggest evidence-based treatments, such as cognitive behavioural therapy. Sexologists and sex therapists can also help you understand how you engage with porn and develop healthier behaviours
•• be aware there is a significant amount of misinformation in this space, including from unqualified therapists and coaches who do not use evidence-based approaches
•• broach any conversation about porn use with respect and care, as this topic can carry strong feelings of shame, fear or guilt.
•For urgent support, you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636.
Correction: this article originally stated the number of young women accessing porn weekly was one-fifth. This has been corrected to state one in seven.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
URL: https://www.psypost.org/what-psychological-science-actually-says-about-pornography-and-addiction/
-------------------------------------------------
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
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DATE: August 21, 2026 at 08:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: What psychological science actually says about pornography and addiction
URL: https://www.psypost.org/what-psychological-science-actually-says-about-pornography-and-addiction/
Porn is a topic we tend to avoid talking about – whether it be at school, work or around the dinner table.
But in Australia, roughly three-quarters of men (76%) and more than one-third of women (41%) report to have looked at pornographic material in the past year.
And among Australians aged 15-20, more than half (54%) of young men and one in seven (14%) young women report accessing porn weekly.
You may have heard the term “porn addiction” used to describe the excessive consumption of porn, in ways that disrupt a person’s life or the lives of those around them.
But is porn actually addictive? Current research suggests the answer is rather complicated.
The debate about porn
For many people, watching porn is a fairly typical behaviour. Others, however, consider it to be problematic.
A 2025 inquiry examined the effects of porn on people’s mental, emotional and physical health. It concluded porn is not inherently harmful. It may, however, impact people differently depending on what it depicts, who consumes it and how it is consumed.
Excessive porn use may become a problem if it affects how a person functions in daily life. To describe this, researchers and clinicians use the term problematic porn use. This refers to the inability to control one’s porn consumption despite repeated attempts to do so, and experiencing negative consequences as a result.
A global survey found 3%–15% of people potentially experience problematic porn use. And these difficulties are generally more common among men.
What causes it?
Problematic porn use is a complex issue and is influenced by various factors. These include pre-existing neurodevelopmental and mental health conditions, such as ADHD or depression. Certain personality traits such as impulsivity, low self-control and novelty seeking may also contribute.
Social and cultural factors such as low relationship satisfaction, social isolation and religious influences are also relevant. And people who feel lonely or lack emotional support are more at risk of developing this issue.
For many people with problematic porn use, consuming porn can become a vicious cycle that draws attention away from their relationships and daily responsibilities. For example, a person’s excessive porn use could see them lose their job due to poor performance. They may also become isolated from friends and family. These consequences often worsen their mental health and daily functioning, making it even harder to control their porn consumption.
People can experience problematic porn use in different ways. Researchers have suggested several key presentations including:
• compulsivity, defined as a strong, hard-to-resist urge for porn, particularly to relieve built-up tension or anxiety
•• impulsivity, which leads to speedy, spontaneous engagements with porn without considering consequences, for instance using porn on a work computer
•• emotional dysregulation, when a person turns to porn to manage difficult emotions such as stress, boredom or loneliness
•• addiction-like experiences, such as having intense cravings and/or needing more extreme content to feel satisfied.
•Is porn actually addictive?
Problematic porn use is currently considered a type of compulsive sexual behaviour disorder. Such disorders are characterised by an inability to control intense, repetitive sexual impulses for at least six months, to the point of neglecting daily responsibilities.
At this stage, problematic porn use is not formally recognised as an addiction. It is not included as an addiction in the WHO’s International Classification of Diseases or the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Illnesses, two international systems used to define and diagnose medical conditions.
Importantly, research on this topic has grown dramatically since these manuals came out. Evidence, including a recent international review, suggests problematic porn use can in some cases function like an addiction.
There are mounting calls to classify problematic porn use as a behavioural addiction, which would put it in the same category as other addictive online behaviours, such as gambling and gaming disorders. These behaviours light up similar areas of the brain’s reward system. However, activities such as drinking water trigger a similar response, so it’s important to consider this research in context.
The recent landmark social media addiction trial in the United States ruled that tech giants Meta and Google had engineered their platforms to be intentionally addictive. Similar design components are also used on many popular tube-sites – free platforms where porn videos are uploaded and watched. Modern internet porn offers unlimited access to sexual novelty by allowing people to “tab-switch” and continually seek new content during so-called “binges”. Research shows both behaviours may be risk factors for problematic porn use.
However, there is reason to be cautious about describing problematic porn use as an addiction. Research consistently shows many people self-identify as being addicted to porn, even if their use is infrequent and generally under control. This is due to moral incongruence, which is when a person holds strong moral or religious beliefs against pornography, but continues to use it. This can cause significant distress or a strong sense of feeling addicted, even with controlled use, and has been linked to several underlying mental health conditions.
What you can do
If you or a loved one feels like your porn use is problematic, here are some practical steps you can take.
• unpack what’s driving this behaviour to ensure you get the right treatment. For example, is it a genuine loss of control, moral conflicts about porn use and/or underlying conditions such as depression?
•• contact a qualified professional who specialises in problematic porn use. Psychologists can assess whether your consumption is more compulsive, impulsive or addiction-like. They can suggest evidence-based treatments, such as cognitive behavioural therapy. Sexologists and sex therapists can also help you understand how you engage with porn and develop healthier behaviours
•• be aware there is a significant amount of misinformation in this space, including from unqualified therapists and coaches who do not use evidence-based approaches
•• broach any conversation about porn use with respect and care, as this topic can carry strong feelings of shame, fear or guilt.
•For urgent support, you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636.
Correction: this article originally stated the number of young women accessing porn weekly was one-fifth. This has been corrected to state one in seven.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
URL: https://www.psypost.org/what-psychological-science-actually-says-about-pornography-and-addiction/
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#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #pornography #psychologicalscience #problematicpornuse #pornaddiction #mentalhealth #addictionresearch #behaviouraladdiction #lifeline #beyondblue #cognitivetherapy
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