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Ghostery Study: Internet Is for Porn, Tracking

WASHINGTON — Just how big is online porn?

Try these numbers on for size: Nearly one-quarter of all searches on the web (68 million) are for porn and that there are 5 million adult entertainment-related websites that account for a 15 percent market share, according to online-tracking firm Ghostery.

Ghostery also spewed out other stats of interest, including one that said 891 million unique users were tracked by hundreds of third-party Internet and advertising companies when they visited porn sites this past summer.

The Ghostery data, discerned from online trackers encountered by those who opted into Evidon’s GhostRank panel, disseminated other tidbits as well, including the offering that 85 percent of porn is viewed on ad-supported sites.

Because porn sites increasingly are reliant on advertising to make money, Ghostery surmises, subscription revenues plummeted from $20 billion in 2005 to $10 billion in 2011.

An infographic of Ghostery's study results can be viewed here.

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