Over the course of the various lockdowns in 2020 and 2021, we have noticed an increasing trend in people seeking help for online porn addiction. Our anecdotal evidence is revealed in formal studies such as a recent study published by the academic journal Frontiers Psychiatry [1] which used Google Trends to reveal a significant rise in interest in online porn in countries affected by COVID-19 lockdowns, compared to the last 4 years. Furthermore, between February and March 2020, traffic to the Pornhub website in Australia jumped from 0.5% to 5.2% [2]. In many countries, spikes in visits to Pornhub have occurred in the early weeks of the pandemic, immediately after social distancing measures were put in place.
This is unsurprising, as the spread of the coronavirus and stay at home orders have led to increased loneliness, isolation and stress, causing people to turn to pornography as a form of entertainment, connection and distraction.
Porn addiction can be a highly rewarding behaviour, due to the quick and intense brain rewards (dopamine) which pornography encourages, and there is nothing wrong with watching porn. Unfortunately, however, the reward cycle can sometimes lead to a dependency or addiction, which in simple terms means that you find yourself watching too much porn too often, at a detriment to your other normal activities or your relationships.
According to a survey of Australian adults, approximately 4.4% of men and 1.2% of women consider themselves porn addicts [3]. As this survey only included those who were willing to share this information, it it likely that the figures are even higher.
While the moderate use of porn does not interfere with daily life or romantic relationships, porn addiction can occur when the consumption of porn reaches a level where you become dependent on it. If porn addiction is affecting your personal relationships, work, responsibilities or family life, it may be time to reach out and seek professional help for the problem.
Typical signs and symptoms of porn addiction include:
Acceptance and honesty is the first step in seeking help and overcoming addiction. Porn addicts can try to find a counsellor, psychologist or support group where they can open up about the true nature and extent of their problem and equip themselves with tools and strategies to manage their addiction.
(1) Hashir Ali Awan et al, “Internet and Pornography Use During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Presumed Impact and What Can Be Done“, Frontiers in Psyciatry, 16 March 2021
(2) Porn Hub: Corona Virus Insights: https://www.pornhub.com/insights/corona-virus
