The United States leads the world in Pornhub traffic in 2024, indicating a growing trend among Americans to watch more pornography. However, this increase in consumption raises concerns about its potential negative effects.
Therapist Danielle Sukenik has discussed the adverse impact of porn on the brain, highlighting how it can lead to physical changes in brain structure.
A 2015 study revealed that men who frequently consume pornography showed reduced capacity in brain regions responsible for motivation and decision-making. Additionally, heavy users of platforms like Pornhub were found to be less responsive to sexual stimuli, which may contribute to intimacy issues.
Sukenik noted in an article for The Conversation: “This pattern likely results from lower connectivity between the prefrontal cortex − the decision-making part of the brain − and the reward as more porn is consumed. This in turn leads to increased cravings and impulsivity in order to achieve the previous levels of reward in the brain.”
She further explained that the alterations in brain chemistry might push users to seek more extreme content: “This pursuit, in attempts to override the chemistry of the changing brain, may lend to disruption in the person’s life, often within relationships.”
Danielle Sukenik is not alone in highlighting these issues. Other experts, like mindset coach Paul Sheppard, have also voiced concerns about the effects of excessive porn consumption.
Sheppard gained attention on TikTok by describing how frequent porn viewing can negatively impact the brain.
He stated: “Here are some ways porn can f*** up your brain. And also f*** up your life.”
According to Sheppard, overconsumption of porn might lead to the brain being conditioned to prefer porn over real-life sexual experiences.
He added: “Too much porn use has been linked to performance anxiety, erectile dysfunction, sexual inadequacy and also body image negativity.”
Sheppard elaborated on why porn can be so addictive, explaining that it acts as a “super stimulant,” elevating dopamine levels to unnatural highs, thus making it highly addictive for some individuals. “It also makes other things around you much less pleasurable because the only way you can get that really good feeling is to go back to porn.”
Symptoms such as brain fog, fatigue, lack of motivation, and irritability could indicate excessive porn consumption, according to the anxiety coach.
If experiencing such issues, Sheppard recommends “rebooting and rewiring your brain by abstaining completely and doing something else instead.”