Pornhub alone had over 4.4 billion visits per month in recent years — more than Netflix, Amazon, and Twitter/X.
A 2023 report from the Journal of Sex Research found that 94% of men and 73% of women in the U.S. reported lifetime exposure to pornography.
It is often habitual, with many users engaging daily or multiple times a week.
Pornography ranks among the top online search terms globally, consistently.
It outperforms nearly every other entertainment category in engagement time per session.
But imagine waking up tomorrow and the internet’s biggest pastimes — was just… gone.
No more late-night scrolling for dopamine.
No more quick fixes or fantasy escapes.
No more algorithm-engineered content that offers pleasure on demand.
Would people panic? Would they feel liberated? What would rise in its place?
This isn’t just a hypothetical. It’s a wake-up call.
The Loss... or the Gain?
For many, this habit has become so deeply embedded in daily life, it's hard to picture a world without it. But let’s play it out:
Some would feel loss. A coping mechanism. A stress reliever. A familiar routine… gone.
Others would feel relief. No more private guilt. No more shame cycles. No more mental battles between values and behavior.
Some would suddenly notice the gap. The space that was once filled with fantasy would now echo with an unmet need for connection, closeness, or even healing.
But Here's the Real Question:
If one screen-based pleasure disappeared…
Would we finally turn toward each other again?
Would we sit longer in coversations?
Would we risk more vulnerability?
Would we build real intimacy instead of consuming a digital substitute?
What Fills the Void?
The absence of a habit doesn’t automatically make us better — but it does create space. And what we choose to fill that space with? That’s where transformation begins.
We can fill it with:
💬 Meaningful conversation
🤝 Physical connection with real people
🧠 A renewed brain, no longer overstimulated
💞 A deeper hunger for true intimacy
📖 New narratives about love, sex, and self-worth
Final Thought
This isn’t about judgment. It’s about vision.
What would life look like if we weren’t constantly chasing the next screen high?
What kind of lovers, friends, parents, or partners might we become?
Maybe the end of one thing… could be the beginning of something beautiful.
References
Grubbs, J. B., Perry, S. L., Wilt, J. A., & Reid, R. C. (2023). Pornography use across the lifespan: Patterns and correlates in a nationally representative sample. Journal of Sex Research, 60(1), 45–60. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2022.2032310
Kohut, T., Balzarini, R. N., Fisher, W. A., & Campbell, L. (2020). Pornography use and romantic relationships: A dyadic approach. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 49(3), 849–865. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-019-01559-7
MindGeek. (2022). Pornhub 2022 Year in Review. https://www.pornhub.com/insights/2022-year-in-review
Semrush. (2022). Top websites by traffic in 2022. https://www.semrush.com
Statista. (2023). Most popular online search queries worldwide. https://www.statista.com
