By Siziphiwe Ntakana
South Africans seem to love their porn. Online traffic analytics show a growing share of local users, particularly youth, visiting adult content websites.
“I knew I was addicted when I started missing classes because I began my day watching porn,” shares Banele, who is currently recovering from porn addiction.
Banele’s introduction to adult content followed a familiar pattern. He began watching at the tender age of 12 after hearing his classmates talk about it.
“Out of curiosity, I looked it up, unknowingly opening a door that would be incredibly hard to close.”
PornHub Insights data reveal that South Africans spend an average of 10 minutes and 35 seconds per visit, almost 19% longer than the global average of 8 minutes and 56 seconds. Worldmetrics reports that five out of six people online aged 18 to 24 have viewed porn, and 40% of teenagers admit to watching it regularly by age 16.
Recent findings from the Youth Research Unit of Unisa’s Bureau for Market Research show that the issue extends far deeper. More than 55% of South African children under 18 reportedly watch pornography regularly, while 10% admit to watching it every day. The same study found that 35% of these children did not care whether their viewing was illegal, with nearly a third consuming violent pornographic material. Researchers linked this to the increasing accessibility of smartphones, tablets, and free internet at schools and public spaces.
The youth especially face a heightened risk of psychological and even physical harm, according to Sexologist and Trauma Release Exercise (TRE) practitioner, Lynett Olivier. Olivier, who is a registered member of the Council of Sexual Health Professionals, explains that the dopamine release from porn can simulate the neurological high of nicotine. This releaser feeds a cycle of compulsive cravings, consumption, shame, and then isolation. The sudden spike in porn usage among young people is especially alarming.
Unsupervised kids watching porn
In an interview with Independent Online, National Centre for Child Protection (NCCP) CEO Danie Van Loggerenberg said early smartphone ownership and unsupervised access to devices are major drivers of early exposure. van Loggerenberg said that the NCCP found that 21% of children watch porn every day and 59% do so regularly.
Some are exposed as early as seven years old, with many receiving their first smartphones in Grade R.
“The younger they are, the more comfortable they are with any form of porn,” Van Loggerenberg told IOL, warning that children often encounter predators online or are coerced into sending nude images of themselves.
Early exposure to sexual content, often driven by curiosity and sometimes unintended, like finding adult material on a parent’s or friend’s phone, is one of the contributing factors to the explosion of porn use among the youth.
It does not end there, as emotional regulation difficulties, unprocessed trauma, peer pressure, and emotionally unavailable parents or caregivers can also be fertile ground for an uncontrollable porn usage spiral, says Olivier. In such cases, pornography is used to fill the voids.
“I would lose track of time. Before I knew it, I’d be lying helpless in bed, crippled by guilt, which led me to isolate myself,” Banele told us.
Olivier further explains that the instant gratification that porn provides stimulates dopamine, which is the brain’s reward system. Over time, people build tolerance, which leads to seeking more frequent or extreme content to experience the same level of pleasure.
Writer Sarah Barkley, in her article What Causes Porn Addiction?, adds that personal struggles often lie at the root of this behaviour. She points to factors like past sexual abuse, low self-esteem, and negative thinking patterns, which can drive individuals to use pornography as a way of finding temporary comfort, even though it may deepen the problem in the long run.
Obsessive compulsions
Addiction reflects a loss of control, persistent use despite harm, and an increasing need to consume more frequently or intensely to achieve the same effect, explains Olivier. She also notes that frequent, unregulated streaming of pornography can lead to users developing compulsive behaviours.
Banele lost control of the habit to such an extent that the mere sight of a kissing scene on TV would elicit sexual imagery in his mind.
“I had rewired my brain with the content I consumed. The urge felt stronger than me. Even when I didn’t want to, I’d end up watching it again.”
Compulsive porn use is often accompanied by deep shame, yet users continue consuming to escape the very shame they’re trying to avoid. This creates a loop: more consumption, more shame, and deeper addiction.
Catching and curbing the habit early might be a crucial step in finding a way out. Olivier recommends several steps that individuals feeling trapped might take to reclaim control of their lives.
She encourages people to own their behaviour without shame, and to try speaking to a friend or adult. Tracking patterns, like when, why, and how often you watch porn, is another useful tip. She also recommends journaling to identify and completely avoid triggers, on and offline.
Buying time to resist by delaying the urges is another useful tip. That time can instead be filled by something else, like working out, leaving the room to do something else, anything but using porn.
Addictions are difficult to beat alone. If you suspect you may be trapped, then seek professional help.
Speak to a therapist, join a support group, or explore platforms like www.rebootnation.org or www.yourbrainonporn.com for free tools and education.
Article provided courtesy of the Khulani! Youth Journalism project
