Over 100 quick stats and findings from an ever-growing body of research that details the effects of porn for individuals, relationships, and society.
83% of active 2020 sex trafficking cases involved online solicitation, which is overwhelmingly the most common tactic traffickers use to solicit sex buyers.
The Internet Watch Foundation recently reported that during 2020, approximately 44% of all child sexual abuse material reported to the IWF involved self-generated material. That’s a 16% increase from 2019 when only a third of reports involved self-generated imagery.
One review of 20 studies on the topic found that pornography consumption negatively impacts adolescents’ self-esteem and mental health.
One study shows that approximately 45% of teens who consumed porn did so in part to learn about sex.
Problematic porn consumers who are treated using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy show a 92% reduction in porn consumption, and an 86% reduction three months later.
44.6% of underage sex trafficking victims experienced childhood sexual abuse before entry into the commercial sex industry.
Porn consumption is linked to poorer relationship quality.
Research suggests that frequent porn consumers are more likely to victim-blame survivors of sexual violence.
Porn consumption is associated with lower self-esteem.
Studies consistently show that porn is linked to lower relationship satisfaction and lower relationship quality.
Porn consumers tend to be more accepting of cheating.
Research consistently shows that porn consumers are twice as likely to later experience a divorce or breakup —even after controlling for marital happiness, sexual satisfaction, and other relevant factors.
©Fight the New Drug, Inc. 2025, All rights Reserved. Fight the New Drug is a U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit. EIN: 26-3550143
Fight the New Drug, PO Box 522378, Salt Lake City, UT 84152 | Fight the New Drug is a part of the PHASE Alliance™.