Protect Families • Protect Youth

Pornography is widely accessible on the internet and for many users it is more than a private habit — for some it contributes to relationship harm, mental-health symptoms, and exposes children to inappropriate sexual content at younger ages. In response, we’re launching a 45-day public-health campaign that combines scientific evidence, compassionate recovery pathways, and spiritual values to protect families, children, and communities. Over the coming weeks we will publish daily evidence-based posts, downloadable toolkits for parents and schools, and resources for recovery and policy action. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive frequent update. Brahma krupa hi kevalam.

Why we’re acting now: The digital era made explicit sexual material ubiquitously accessible; children and adolescents encounter sexual content on phones, social platforms, and messaging apps, sometimes before they understand consent or healthy relationships. International child-protection agencies warn that exposure to pornographic material — particularly content that is degrading or violent — is associated with poorer mental-health outcomes, acceptance of sexist attitudes, and increased vulnerability to sexual exploitation. Protecting children is therefore urgent and central to this campaign.

Health and relationship harms: A growing body of clinical and neuroscientific research investigates problematic pornography use and its effects. Reviews of neurobiological evidence find that excessive, compulsive viewing can engage reward and motivation circuits similarly to other problematic behaviours, which may help explain compulsive use patterns among some individuals. Clinical studies also document associations between heavy pornography use and relationship distress, sexual dissatisfaction, and reports of sexual dysfunction in some users, although findings vary across populations and more research is needed to clarify causation and moderating factors. Our campaign will present the evidence carefully and point people toward evidence-based interventions (e.g., psychotherapy, couples therapy, and digital-behavioral strategies).

References:

• Love, T., Laier, C., Brand, M., Hatch, L., & Hajela, R. Neuroscience of Internet Pornography Addiction: A Review. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2015. PubMed Central

• Gola, M., Wordecha, M., et al. Can Pornography Be Addictive? An fMRI Study of Men Seeking Treatment. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2017. Nature

• UNICEF, Protection of children from the harmful impacts of pornography / harmful content online. UNICEF

• WeProtect Global Alliance, Global Threat Assessment 2023. WeProtect Global Alliance

• Jacobs, T. et al., Associations Between Online Pornography Consumption and Erectile Dysfunction / Sexual Health (review).