Statistics
We live in a “pornafied” culture. Our society is quiet at best on the issue, ignoring the harmful effects of pornography, and at worst promotes pornography as a healthy curiosity and expression of sexuality. With the advent of the Internet, smart phones and mobile technologies, pornography is easily accessible, abundant and free.
“Never before in the history of telecommunications media in the United States has so much indecent (and obscene) material been so easily accessible by so many minors in so many American homes with so few restrictions.” – U.S. Department of Justice
This has led to a dramatic increase of pornography usage among children and adults, causing many health care professionals to declare pornography as a global public health crisis.
The statistics on pornography usage are shocking and humbling
(source: Covenant Eyes unless otherwise noted)
35% of all Internet downloads are related to pornography
The following percentages of men say they view pornography at least one a month:
50-68 year olds: 49%
31-49 year olds: 67%
18-30 year olds: 79%
The following percentages of women say they view pornography at least one a month:
50-68 year olds: 4%
31-49 year olds: 16%
18-30 year olds: 76% (Young women’s usage of porn is now nearly equal to men)
The number of children under 18 years of age watching pornography is disturbing
Many studies site the average age of a child's first exposure to pornography is 11 years old
A 2016 survey at a large U.S. Catholic high school found:
49% of the students viewed pornography more than once a week
82% of their pornography use was in their home
In a 2009 survey of 29,000 North American university students:
51% of male students first viewed pornography before the age of 13
32% of female students first viewed pornography before the age of 13
In a 2008 online survey conducted by CyberPsychology and Behavior with more than 560 college student respondents found:
93% of boys and 62% of girls were exposed to pornography before 18
14% of boys and 9% of girls were exposed to pornography before 13
69% of boys and 23% of girls have spent at least 30 consecutive minutes viewing Internet pornography on at least one occasion. 63% of boys have done so more than once, and 35% of boys have done so on more than 10 occasions
83% of boys and 57% of girls have seen group sex online
69% of boys and 55% of girls have seen same-sex intercourse online
39% of boys and 23% of girls have seen sexual bondage online
32% of boys and 18% of girls have seen bestiality online
18% of boys and 10% of girls have seen rape or sexual violence online
15% of boys and 9% of girls have seen child pornography
In a report released by Google Analytics, pornography searches increase by 4,700% when children are out of school
New research from the security technology company Bitdefender has found that, among the online porn users under 18 years of age, 22% are children under the age of 10
Our attitudes on pornography are changing
Just 55% of adults 25 and older believe porn is wrong
Teens and young adults aged 13-24 believe not recycling (56%) is worse than viewing pornography (32%)
A 2007 survey from six U.S. schools found
66.5% of young men said viewing pornographic materials is an acceptable way to express one’s sexuality
48.7% of young women said viewing pornographic materials is an acceptable way to express one’s sexuality
For young adults aged 18-24
22% consider porn to be “good for society”
8% consider porn to be “very good for society”
90% of teens and 96% of young adults are either encouraging, accepting, or neutral when they talk about porn with their friends
All parts of society are negatively impacted by the increased use and destructive effects of pornography.
“Pornography, by its very nature, is an equal opportunity toxin. It damages the viewer, the performer, and the spouses and the children of the viewers and the performers. It is toxic miseducation about sex and relationships. It is more toxic the more you consume, the ‘harder’ the variety you consume and the younger and more vulnerable the consumer.” – Dr. Mary Anne Layden
The Church is not immune
We now face a crisis in the Church and in our families:
64% of self-identified Christian men view pornography at least once a month (compared to 65% of non-Christian men)
23% of practicing Christian men 25+ use porn at least once a month
41% of practicing Christian boys 13-24 use porn at least once a month
15% of self-identified Christian women view pornography at least once a month (compared to 30% of non-Christian women)
A 2016 survey at a large U.S. Catholic high school found: (this bears repeating)
49% of the students viewed pornography more than once a week
82% of their pornography use was in their home
43% of senior pastors and youth pastors (across all denomenations) say they have struggled with pornography in the past.
37% of pastors (across all denomenations) said viewing pornography was a “current struggle.”
These statistics should be alarming. For a comprehensive compilation of stats, quotes, and figures about porn use, please see the free Porn Stats document provided by Covenant Eyes, as well as the RECLAIM Sexual Health web site and the Available Resources page.
Now more than ever, we need to actively protect our families, our children and our own souls from pornography.
Protecting Children
Never before has pornography been so easily accessible by children, and at an intensity and scale no other generation has ever experienced. The majority of pornography usage by children is in the home. It is critical that parents be aware of this threat, and take steps to protect their children.
Getting Help
Many, who have developed a habit of viewing pornography who then want to stop, whether they have had a sincere conversion of faith or are preparing to enter into a faithful marriage with their beloved or for any other reason, find it very difficult to stop. This is in part due to how the brain functions. Shear will power is often not enough and they often find themselves in a cycle of failure and despair. But there help. There is hope.