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Pornography Resources Statistics

Pornography

Portrayals of Sex in the Media

• 75 percent of prime time television in the 1999-2000 season included sexual content
  Sex on TV: Content and Context .  The Kaiser Family Foundation, 5 February, 2001.
• 23 percent of couples in scenes with intercourse appeared to be ages 18-24
  Your Children & Pornography: A guide for Parents , Tom Buford.  Tommera Press, 2001.
• Movies have an 87% likelihood of presenting sexual material
  Sex on TV: Content and Context .  The Kaiser Family Foundation, 5 February, 2001.
• The average American adolescent will view nearly 14,000 sexual references per year
  Sexuality, Contraception, and the Media .  American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Public Education, January, 2001.
• Premarital sex is referred to two or three times every hour in soap operas
  Teens and Sex, Paul A. Gore, Ph.D.  University of Missouri-Kansas City.  www.umkc.edu, 22 April, 1998.
• More than 3 out of 4 Americans say the way television programs show sex encourages irresponsible sexual behavior
  Teens, Sex, & the Media .  www.mediascope.org, 15 March, 2000.
• 12-17 year old young men are most susceptible and vulnerable to mass media sexual portrayals
  Pornography: A review of scientific literature , Stan E. Weed, Ph.D.  17 October, 1997.
• 66 percent of children (ages 10-16) surveyed say their peers are influenced by television shows
  It's Just Harmless Entertainment--Oh Really? Parents Television Council. www.parentstv.org.
• 64 percent of all shows include sexual content, and only 15% mention waiting, protection, and consequences
  TV Sex Getting "Safer."   Kaiser Family Foundation.  www.kff.org, 2003.
• Playboy's largest cable channel, Playboy TV, is available in 24 million of the nation's 81 million homes that receive either satellite, cable or digital television
  Court Overrules Law restricting Cable Sex Shows , Linda Greenhouse.  The New York Times On the Web.  https://www.nytimes.com/library/politics/scotus/articles/052300scotus.html
• â??The Center for Media and Public Affairs' new study found that sexual content is featured once every four minutes on network TV, with 98% of all sexual content having no subsequent physical consequences, 85% of sexual behavior having no lasting emotional impact, and that nearly 75% of the participants in sexual activity were unmarried.â??
  New look at TV sex and violence .  National Catholic Register, 16-22 April 2000.
• Sexual content on prime-time TV more than tripled in the past ten years
  More TV Sex , USA Today.  30 March, 2000.
• 40 percent of teenagers have gotten ideas for how to talk to their boyfriends and girlfriends about sexual issues from entertainment media
  Teens, Sex, & the Media .  Media Scope.  2001.
• Teens ages 13-15 rank entertainment media as the top source of information about sexuality and sexual health
  Teens, Sex, & the Media .  Media Scope.  2001.
• 59 percent of parents say their 4-6 year-old boys imitate aggressive behavior from television
  Zero to Six: Electronic Media in the Lives of Infants, Toddlers and Preschoolers .   Kaiser Family Foundation, 28 October, 2003.
• Teenagers who watch a lot of television with sexual content are twice as likely to engage in intercourse than those who watch few such programs according to a study headed by the RAND Corp. and funded by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
  Study links TV to teen sexual activity .  www.cnn.com/2004/HEALTH/09/07/tv.teen.sex.reut/index.html.  7 September, 2004.
• 60 percent of parents say they are "very" concerned about the amount of sex their children are exposed to on television
  Parents Favor New Limits on TV Content in Early Evening Hours .  Kaiser Family Foundation.  23 September, 2004.
• 63 percent of parents favor new regulations to limit the amount of sex and violence in TV shows during the early evening hours when children are most likely to be watching
  Parents Favor New Limits on TV Content in Early Evening Hours .  Kaiser Family Foundation.  23 September, 2004.
• Youth exposed to sexual content on television are more likely to overestimate the frequency of sexual activity among peers and have more permissive attitudes toward premarital sex.
  State of the Nation: Challenges Facing STD Prevention in Youth .  American Social Health Association, 2005.
• Over 80% of shows popular with teens contain sexual content, a rate higher than shows for other audiences. Only 15% of sexual encounters of TV alluded to the possible risks or responsibilities of sexual activity.
  A biennial report of the Kaiser Family Foundation .  Kaiser Family Foundation, 2003.
• Adolescents who watch television with high levels of sexual content are twice as likely to initiate sexual intercourse and also more likely to initiate other sexual activities.
  Watching sex on television predicts adolescent initiation of sexual behavior , Collins RL et al.  Pediatrics, 2004.
• Two out of three parents (63%) say they are "very concerned that children are being exposed to too much inappropriate content in entertainment media," and another one in four (26%) say they are "somewhat" concerned. A third (34%) say TV concerns them the most.
  Parents, Media and Pubic Policy: A Kaiser Family Foundation Survey.  The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, Fall 2004.
• When it comes to TV, 60% of parents say they are "very" concerned that their children are being exposed to too much sexual content in the TV shows they watch; 53% are "very" concerned about violent content, and 49% about adult language.
  Parents, Media and Pubic Policy: A Kaiser Family Foundation Survey.  The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, Fall 2004.
• Fifty-three percent of all parents say they believe that exposure to sexual content in TV shows contributes "a lot" to children becoming involved in sexual situations before they're ready, with another 30% saying they believe it contributes "somewhat."
  Parents, Media and Pubic Policy: A Kaiser Family Foundation Survey.  The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, Fall 2004.
• Sixty-three percent of parents say they favor "new regulations to limit the amount of sex and violence in TV shows during the early evening hours, when children are most likely to be watching," while 35% oppose them.
  Parents, Media and Pubic Policy: A Kaiser Family Foundation Survey.  The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, Fall 2004.
• Fifty-two percent of parents say cable should be subject to the same standards as broadcast television, and 43% say it should not.
  Parents, Media and Pubic Policy: A Kaiser Family Foundation Survey.  The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, Fall 2004.
• Teens with high levels of exposure to rap videos, which often promote drug use, violence and sex, are significantly more likely to acquire an STD.
  A prospective study of exposure to rap music video and African American female adolescents' health , Wingood GM et al.  American Journal of Public Health, 2003.
• A Pew Research Center poll in April 2005 showed that most people support higher fines on broadcasters and favor extending indecency rules to cable
  Indecent or not? TV, radio walk fuzzy line , Paul Davidson.  USA Today.  3 June 2005.
• Pay-TV services reach 85% of U.S. homes
  Indecent or not? TV, radio walk fuzzy line , Paul Davidson.  USA Today.  3 June 2005.

Sexually Oriented Businesses (SOB)

• Sex offenses are 506% greater in Phoenix, Arizona areas where SOBs are located
• Warning: What you risk by using pornography .  National Coalition for the Protection of Children & Families.
• There are more than 2,400 strip clubs in the United States; annual revenue at some clubs is as high as $8 million
  Stop Pretending , Candi Dushman.  World Magazine, 5 August, 2000.
• Annual rentals and sales of adult videos and DVDs top $4 billion
  The Actress, the Producer, and Their Porn Revolution , Ralph Frammolino and P.J. Huffstutter.  Las Angeles Times Magazine, 6 January, 2002.
• 90 percent of surveyed real estate professionals in Los Angeles believe market value of homes would decrease by 20% when located near concentrated SOBs
  Partnering with the Business Community to Fight Sexually Oriented Businesses .  American Family Association.  www.afa.net.
• 75 percent of women working at SOBs in Memphis, Tennessee have at least one STD
  Sexually Oriented Businesses: A View Inside , Carolyn McKenzie.  Proponent Testimony S.B. 251, Ohio State Judiciary Committee on Civil Justice, 3 December, 2002.

Emerging Technology

• Fewer than 1 in 10 teenagers believe that music piracy is morally wrong
  The Barna Group, 26 April, 2004. https://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdate&BarnaUpdateID=162.
• DVD player from RCA allows parents to filter movie content deemed objectionable in four categories: violence, sex and nudity, language and other
  DVD players filter movies for content , Gary Gentile.  The Cincinnati Enquirer, 19 April, 2004.
• 66 percent of Americans support an a la carte cable pricing, giving families the power to pay for only the channels they choose
  Poll adds to push for a la carte cable pricing , Michael McCarthy.  USA Today, 5 May, 2004.
• ClearPlay created a new $70 DVD player (available at Wal-Mart) that has built-in filters designed to skip over violence and nudity and to mute salty language in 100 movies; more than 600 titles are available for download
  Hollywood riled up over ClearPlay , Mike Snider.  USA Today, 6 May, 2004.
• "Senate agreed to boost maximum fine for broadcasters airing offensive shows to $275,000 per incident from $32,5000, to a maximum of $3 million a day."
  Increased indecency fines pass Senate , Paul Davidson.  USA Today, 23 June, 2004.
• 54 percent of young men ages 18 to 24 use instant messaging to communicate
  Survey: Young Men would do without video games before TV , Michael McCarthy & Dan Goodman.  USA Today, 26 July, 2004.
• Only 5% of parents say they are not concerned about their children viewing inappropriate content. Of these parents, 34 percent say television content worries them the most, 16% are worried most by the Internet, 10% by movies, 7% by music, and 5% by video games. Hot-button issues . USA Today Snapshots.
• Sixteen percent of adults spend time visiting faith-oriented websites during the typical month. The Internet is the only mass medium among those tested whose audience share has grown during the past decade. The proportion of the population using the Internet for faith purposes has increased by two-thirds since 1998.
  More People Use Christian Media Than Attend Church .  The Barna Update, 14 March 2005.
• Thirty-five percent of adults read a Christian magazine during a typical month. One-third of all adults read a Christian book.
  More People Use Christian Media Than Attend Church .  The Barna Update, 14 March 2005.

Radio

• "Men's magazine Maxim plans to announce a deal with Sirius Satellite Radio today to launch a 'Maxim Radio' network this fall."
  Satellite radio to tune in 'Maxim,' Michael McCarthy.  USA Today, 7 June, 2004.
• Forty-six percent of all adults listen to a Christian radio broadcast in a typical month (down from 56% in 1992), and 16% listen on a daily basis. Christian radio has lost one-third of its non-Christian audience in the past 13 years.
  More People Use Christian Media Than Attend Church .  The Barna Update, 14 March 2005.
• Twenty-three percent of all unchurched Americans listen to Christian radio in a typical month, representing a nationwide audience of 17 million adults who do not attend a church.
  More People Use Christian Media Than Attend Church .  The Barna Update, 14 March 2005

Cell Phones

• Sexual content (pornography) over cell phones will generate over $1.5 billion in Western Europe, as the Vodafone Group introduces and provides 'risqu'" content to customers' phones
  In Europe, Cell Phone Profits Go Up as Clothes Come Off, Jennifer L. Schenker .  The New York Times, 4 May, 2004.
• By the end of 2004, the number of wireless subscribers in the USA surpassed 180.5 million with revenue topping $102 billion, up 21.7 million subscribers from 2003, according to CTIA, the wireless trade association.
  Cell phone use booms, despite uneven service, Marilyn Elias.  USA Today, 14 March 2004.
• More than 60 percent of Americans are using wireless devices to talk, send e-mail, take pictures, watch video and listen to music.
  Cell phone use booms, despite uneven service, Marilyn Elias.  USA Today, 14 March 2004.
• Increasingly, cell phones are being used for more than just talking. Many cell phone companies are offering entertainment-oriented add-ons that allow people to watch TV, check their email, surf the Web and listen to music.
  Enter a whole new world through your phone, Jefferson Graham. USA Today, 13 May 2005.
• 50 million subscribers sent 4.4 billion text messages in Cingular's first 2005 quarter.
  Enter a whole new world through your phone, Jefferson Graham. USA Today, 13 May 2005.
• Dwango Wireless will develop Playboy-themed games, images, video clips, voice clips and ring tones, and deliver that content to 170 million cell phone subscribers throughout North America through agreements with major wireless carriers such as Cingular, Nextel, T-Mobile and Verizon.
  Enter a whole new world through your phone, Jefferson Graham. USA Today, 13 May 2005. An independent study by IDC revealed that 33.2% of cell phone users in America, more than 55 million, are between the ages of 5 and 19.
  Pornographers Set To Go After Children With Cell Phones .  OneMillionDads.com, 27 April 2005.

Video Games

• U.S. children are exposed to 8 1/2 hours of TV, video games, computers and other media a day, often at once. As a result, kids' expectations are to be constantly entertained and, if they are not entertained, they quickly lose interest.
  So much media, so little attention span , Marilyn Elias.  USA Today, 31 March 2005.
• About half of kids have a video game player in their rooms; more than two-thirds have TV sets.
  So much media, so little attention span , Marilyn Elias.  USA Today, 31 March 2005.
• On average, 8-18 year old boys spend 1 hour, 12 minutes playing video games each day. Eight-18 year old girls spend 25 minutes per day.
  So much media, so little attention span , Marilyn Elias.  USA Today, 31 March 2005.

Television

• The average 8-18 year old African American person will watch 4 hours, 5 minutes of television per day, Hispanics 3 hours, 23 minutes, and Whites 2 hours, 45 minutes.
  So much media, so little attention span , Marilyn Elias.  USA Today, 31 March 2005.
• According to 8-18 year olds responding about television environment at home, 63% say the television is â??usuallyâ?? on during meals, 53% say there are no rules about TV watching, and 51% say the TV is on most of the time.
  So much media, so little attention span , Marilyn Elias.  USA Today, 31 March 2005.
• Remaining unchanged from 1992, 45% of adults watch Christian television programming during a typical month. One-fourth of the unchurchedâ??about 20 million adultsâ??watch Christian television programming each month.
  More People Use Christian Media Than Attend Church.  The Barna Update, 14 March 2005.
• Nearly all parents (99%) have a TV in the home (including 62% who have three or more sets), 81% have cable or satellite, 73% have Internet access, 63% have a video game player, 32% have premium cable channels, and 17% have a TV or DVD player in their car, with another 5% saying they are â??veryâ?? likely to get one within the next year.
  Parents, Media and Pubic Policy: A Kaiser Family Foundation Survey.  The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, Fall 2004.

• Of 118 "M" (mature) rated games, 70% were targeted to children under 17 years of age
  Federal Trade Commission, 2000.
• Unaccompanied children, ages 13 to 16, were able to buy â??Mâ?? rated video games 85% of the time
  Federal Trade Commission, 2000.
• Animated films rated G by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) received a significantly higher content-based score for violence on average than non-animated films rated G.
  Violence, Sex, and Profanity in Films: Correlation of Movie Ratings With Content , Kimberly M. Thompson, ScD and Fumie Yokota, PhD.  Medscape General Medicine, 12 July, 2004.
• Age-based ratings alone do not provide good information about the depiction of violence, sex, profanity, and other content, and the criteria for rating movies has become less stringent over the last decade.
  Violence, Sex, and Profanity in Films: Correlation of Movie Ratings With Content , Kimberly M. Thompson, ScD and Fumie Yokota, PhD.  Medscape General Medicine, 12 July, 2004.
• The MPAA tolerates increasingly more extreme content in any given age-based rating category over time; there has been a significant increase over years in violence, sex and profanity in PG, PG-13, and R-rated films.  These data suggest that the MPAA applied increasingly more lenient criteria for its age-based ratings as a function of time over the last decade.
  Violence, Sex, and Profanity in Films: Correlation of Movie Ratings With Content , Kimberly M. Thompson, ScD and Fumie Yokota, PhD.  Medscape General Medicine, 12 July, 2004.
• A Parents Television Council (PTC) study shows that ratings do not accurately reflect program content, with many lacking descriptors (such as "V" for violent).
  I ndecent or not? TV, radio walk fuzzy line , Paul Davidson.  USA Today.  3 June 2005. 
• Fifteen percent of household used the V-chip, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation study.
  Indecent or not? TV, radio walk fuzzy line , Paul Davidson.  USA Today.  3 June 2005. 

• MTV plans to launch a network devoted entirely to its gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender audience in February, 2005.  The network is to be named LOGO.
  MTV plans network aimed at gay viewers , Michael McCarthy.  USA Today, 26 May, 2004.
• "Young people are sexualized at an earlier and earlier age" Stars like Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera have long been criticized for exploiting their sexuality for profit.  The next generation can already be seen emulating its older sisters ' literally.'
  Mini-Britneys .  The Washington Times, 3-9 May, 2004.

• Marketers are abstaining from sex as sales tool due to the after-shock of the Super Bowl half-time show;  Anheuser-Busch, Victoria's Secret and Abercrombie & Fitch are among the companies who are dropping risquÃ? advertising
  RisquÃ? may be too risky for ads , Bruce Horovitz.  USA Today, 16 April, 2004.
• Carl's, Jr. adopts Hugh Hefner as a representative for the hamburger chain, claiming, 'as a pop-icon, Hefner appeals to our target audience and credibly communicates our message of variety.'
  Christian Broadcaster Blasts Carl's, Jr. for Ad's Sexual Innuendo , James L. Lambert.  American Family Association, November 2003.