Pornography's Stunning Impact Visualized in a Single Infographic -- and What Happened When Some Chose to Give It Up

Christian leaders and churches have been issuing dire warnings about the dangers of porn addiction for quite some time. While many of these critiques have been faith-based in nature, a new study and an accompanying infographic provide a statistical look at the impact of Internet porn -- and the potential benefits that could come from giving it up.

Reported effects of online porn use among NoFap participants (Credit: Project Know)

Compiled by Project Know, an alcohol and substance abuse program, the analysis is stunning. The group notes that pornography, by its very design, "poses significant risk of addiction" and is "the perfect trap for the human sex drive."

At the center of the research is the notion that Internet porn carries with it some unpalatable consequences. From having an impact on personal relationships to creating sexual dysfunction, the results are widespread and diverse.

"Online porn is so stimulating, it can make existing sexual relationships seem inadequate in comparison, and the quality of porn addicts' relationships -- and lives -- may suffer as a result," reads a primer from the group.

The explanation adds, "The endless stimulus of porn has a real impact. Today, 42% of male college students report that they regularly visit porn sites, one in five feel controlled by their own sexual desires, and 12% of them spend 5 or more hours watching internet porn every week."

In analyzing a group of Reddit users known as NoFap -- a collective of individuals who avoid masturbation and, as a result, are attempting to no longer look at Internet pornography -- Project Know explored a segment of the group's demographics, the consequences for their actions and the benefits they experienced by giving up porn.

NoFap, if you're unfamiliar, includes tens of thousands of members who are giving up porn and are coming together to encourage one another, as they believe that porn addiction -- or the mere presence of porn in their lives -- has had negative consequences, ranging from an impact on their sex lives to increased social anxiety.

In surveying 603 of these individuals, Project Know found some fascinating results. Among them:

• 35 percent of NoFap participants said they felt a "surge" of energy just one or two weeks after quitting porn
• 30 percent reported a "flatlining" or adjustment of their libido to a normal level after abstaining for weeks
• 60 percent felt that sexual dysfunctions had improved after partaking in NoFap
• 56 percent said they had a better handle on strengths and weaknesses
• 67 percent said they were more energetic and productive upon quitting porn

See the complete results in the infographic below via ProjectKnow.com:

Find out more about porn addiction here.

(H/T: Business Insider)

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