Online pornography addiction

Online pornography addiction is a type of pornography addiction in which the user obtains the pornography through the Internet.

The concept of "online pornography addiction", and "pornography addiction" more generally, is rejected by many libertarians, who argue that the concept is based on unproven ideological assumptions that pornography consumption is bad. Usage of the term is mainly associated with those who believe that pornography is immoral, or that it is having a negative effect on society, such as social and religious conservatives and some feminists.

Those who believe in the concept of online pornography addiction argue that it is stronger, and more addictive, than ordinary pornography addiction because of the easy, wide availability and privacy of online pornographic material.

Some proponents of this concept proposed criteria for "self-diagnosis" of a pornography addiction. One such criterion is this: the user has repeatedly tried to stop viewing online porn for periods of several days, but has been unable to do so for a period of 30 days. Supporters of pornography argue that such a person is afflicted with unnecessary and unnatural shame at a normal and healthy activity, and that their difficulty in quitting is a sign of the difficulty of living against one's natural desires.

Another proposed criterion for diagnosis of online pornography addiction is that the user masturbates in front of the computer, while viewing the online porn. The user effectively uses the online porn to "get off" (i.e. get happy; see happy hour): to change one's mental state. Others argue that masturbation, including masturbation to stimuli such as pornography, is an entirely natural and healthy way of expressing one's sexuality.

See also

• Philosophy of sex
• Celibacy
• Sexual morality
• Craving

Further reading

• The Skinner Box Effect : Sexual Addiction and Online Pornography, Thomas M. Grunder, ISBN 0595093248

External links

• Can Intimacy be Found Online? - from pornography recovery website PureIntimacy.org
• Moderated newsgroup: alt.sex.addiction.recovery.moderated
• Toxic Porn, Toxic Sex: A Real Look at Pornography
• Free information about porn and sexual addictions.
• Big Online Business Becoming Big Problem for Many
• The cures for pornography addiction by Rick Doder.
• The Porn Addiction Cycle
• The Porn Factor