One of the things that has become obvious is that our relationship and interfusion with technology go hand in hand with the growth in sex and porn addiction. Technology is an enabler of sorts, as scores of apps to hook up and the infinite sites on the internet for pornographic content mean that we have more access to unprecedented amounts of sexual novelty. Terms such as ‘doom scroll’ show that the wider population has developed unhealthy behaviors with screen time and tech use similar to those who struggle with porn addiction.

The words of Patrick Carnes have foretold, almost like some sort of prophet, that we are on the cusp of a sex and porn addiction epidemic. The misinformation around the validity of sexual compulsivity being recognized as an addiction akin to that of other behavioural and substance-based addictions continues, and I argue that behavioral addictions are still substance-based, in that the ‘shooting up’ takes place within the brain in the form of the neurotransmitter dopamine.

I am a drug addict of sorts, but a cheap one at that. I knackered out my brain’s dopamine factory to the point it almost completely ruined my life. At the height or the lowest part of my acting out, it wasn’t even about gratification; I couldn’t even get aroused. The ‘hits’ took place between the ears.

One of the arguments against sex addiction is that it’s the cry of morally bankrupt men to minimize and avoid accountability for their actions and misconduct. Far from it, my life in recovery is about taking accountability, and my future is centered upon living my amends, but alas, I’m getting carried away.

The apologetics for a diagnosis is not something I like to get too embroiled with, but I state the case here as it’s a context to something I feel is more important. If this epidemic prediction is fulfilled, what might that look like? How might the dynamics or makeup of fellowships shift?

Indulge in my speculation for a minute. The thought occurred to me over the last year or so that we have a hypersexual society and culture. We also now have consumers of pornography at an all-time high and a growing number of pornography producers. It’s no longer the studios but the bedrooms, the webcams, and the OnlyFans. This industry is growing at an unsustainable rate but it has been for a generation now, and with that migration from the studio to the grassroots on an industrial global scale, we have two demographics whose sexual behavior goes off the charts and perpetually props up one another’s dysfunction.

I wonder if in time we will see the way that sex and porn addiction presents will reflect these changes. Will ‘content creators’ hit a point of unmanageability? Will the behaviors of payoff in followers, money, and the acts of sex fuse, making the widely agreed-upon definition of addiction fit this growing portion of the population?

A neuropsychological disorder defining pervasive and intense urge to engage in maladaptive behaviors providing immediate sensory rewards, despite their harmful consequences.

Here are some facts to consider relating to consumption since 2021:

• Around 30% to 35% of all internet downloads were related to pornography.
• Pornhub, one of the largest adult websites, received over 42 billion visits in 2019, averaging around 115 million visits per day.
• During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, there was a significant increase in online traffic to adult websites, with some sources reporting an increase of up to 24%.

And here are some points on production:

• Revenue Growth: The global adult entertainment industry has seen steady growth over the years. In 2020, it was estimated to be worth around $97 billion, marking an increase from previous years.
• The growth of amateur and self-produced content, fueled by platforms like OnlyFans has been a significant driver of industry growth. By 2020, these platforms were estimated to have generated billions of dollars collectively.
• Live webcam shows and private performances had become a multi-billion-dollar segment of the industry by 2020, with a growing number of performers and users participating.