Slate Shines a Light on 'Porn Addiction' Industry, #NoFap Movement

Slate Shines a Light on 'Porn Addiction' Industry, #NoFap Movement

LOS ANGELES — Slate magazine has published a detailed account of the current trend of evangelical men becoming convinced that they experience “porn addiction,” and how this feeds into both a lucrative cottage industry to “cure” them and also into War On Porn propaganda and myth-based campaigns like the Reddit-driven #NoFap.

The article, titled “Sinning Like a Man,” was written by Kelsy Burke, a religion and sexuality researcher who has conducted numerous interviews with religious men who believed themselves to be “addicted to porn.”

“According to a national survey published in the Journal of Abnormal Psychology,” Burke wrote, “conservative Protestant men are the most likely group to perceive themselves to be addicted to porn, even if they watch less of it than their secular counterparts. And this has turned out to be a lucrative phenomenon. Christian books, apps, lifestyle groups and conferences constitute a booming industry to help men quit porn — or, in the words of one of them, to help afflicted men ‘develop sexual integrity.’”

Burke says she “first started hearing stories about pornography addiction while researching online Christian sex advice: blogs, message boards, and online stores created by and for evangelical Christians to have great sex in their marriages. Based on the stories I was reading online, pornography was a vicious virus that had spread to virtually all Christian men. I read countless stories of battles against pornography addiction and common advice that these addicts attend programs to get clean.”

In 2016, Burke started her research and what she discovered is that “porn addiction recovery” programs do not in any way, as they allege, “free men of their darkest biological impulses and to put them on a path to healthy, spiritual relationships with women.”

Burke points out many clinicians “wave away the issue of porn addiction. Most mainstream scientists do not liken it to drug and alcohol addiction, and there is heated debate about whether it meets criteria of a behavioral addiction, like gambling. Pornography addiction is not included in any reputable diagnostics manual, including the American Psychiatric Association’s DSM.”

Burke found that for Christian men “admitting they have a problem with porn — even if they continue to occasionally watch it — is a way to garner sympathy from women.”

This sympathy, however, "does not extend to women who watch porn themselves."

“Pornography addiction is decidedly a ‘man’s problem,’ according to both the porn-addiction industry and the people I interviewed,” Burke wrote. “Sociologist Sam Perry has detailed this gendered double standard within conservative Christian churches, where women who watch porn are met with skepticism and stigma. As Perry puts it, women who watch porn are not just committing the sin of lust but they are also ‘sinning against their gender,’ or ‘sinning like a man’.”

To read the Slate article “Sinning Like a Man,” click here.

Related:  

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

TeamSkeet, MYLF to Launch New Website FamilyStrokes.com

Sister studios TeamSkeet and MYLF are launching a new website, FamilyStrokes.com.

AV Bulletin: Age Verification Hits the Mainstream, Ofcom Sets a Date

Industry stakeholders and free speech advocates have anxiously been awaiting the Supreme Court’s decision in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, which could significantly impact state age verification laws around the country. In the meantime, state legislatures continue to weigh and pass AV bills, AV tech providers continue to tout their services, and legal challenges continue to play out in the courts — with some cases on hold pending the SCOTUS ruling in Paxton.

Segpay Names Kristi Greer VP of Sales

Segpay has promoted long-time employee Kristi Greer to the position of vice president of sales.

BranditScan Names Subgirl Newest Brand Ambassador

BranditScan has named content creator Subgirl its newest brand ambassador.

Arcom Reports Age Verification Enforcement Actions Against 5 Adult Sites

French media regulator Arcom released a statement Tuesday detailing recent actions to enforce age verification rules as set forth under France’s Security and Regulation of the Digital Space (SREN) law.

Pineapple Support, Clips4Sale to Host Performers' Partners Support Group

Pineapple Support and Clips4Sale are hosting a free online support group for partners and family members of adult industry professionals.

FSC Mourns the Loss of Board Director Emeritus Mark Kernes

Free Speech Coalition has released a statement regarding the passing of Board Director Emeritus Mark Kernes.

Alexa Creed Launches New Paysite

Creator Alexa Creed has launched a new membership site through MyMember.site.

Choice Talent Management Launches Fan Platform 'ChoiceFilmz'

Choice Talent Management CEO Chris Crisco has launched a new fan platform called ChoiceFilmz.

Dredd to Launch Official Site

Dredd has announced his new website OfficialDreddXXX.com, launching April 20.

Show More