Can Porn Withdrawal Become a Business? The Truth Behind the "Anti-Porn" App Generating $500,000 a Month by a 19-Year-Old

1) How True is the "Success Story of a 19-Year-Old"?

Brazilian economic media outlet InfoMoney reported on August 30 that 19-year-old British entrepreneur Alex Slater has reached a monthly revenue of approximately $500,000 (about 2.7 million reais) with his porn withdrawal support app "Quittr," which is used by 150,000 people daily and has been downloaded over a million times. The annual fee is £29.99. Key features include a "panic button" that vibrates the device and activates the front camera, goal gamification, a bulletin board, mindfulness, and site blocking. The source of this information is an article from the UK The Sun, which also touches on the developer's lifestyle (considering purchasing a $10 million mansion in Miami and a Lamborghini). While the numbers are impressive, they partly rely on self-reported data from the individual, so caution is advised.InfoMoneyThe Sun

2) Why is the "Quit Porn App" Growing Now?

Three overlapping trends are in the background.

• Strengthened Regulations: In the UK, strict rules requiring age verification through government ID or facial scans for adult sites will be introduced in July 2025. While raising privacy concerns and discussions about "loopholes," this has created an environment where apps and tools are easily noticed as a "third norm" outside of family, school, and religion.The Washington Post

• Expansion of the Self-Help Market: The media positions Quittr as a "digital abstinence" service based on "behavioral science × community × gamification." It also introduces a self-assessed one-year abstinence achievement rate of 41%, treating it as a part of the wellness industry. This is an area where the "quality of evidence" is questioned.The Week

• Growth Loop from Social Media: The founder and official X account actively disseminate information, with a case where a single meme ad costing $100 generated over $20,000 in sales spreading widely. It was designed to aim for massive publicity even on a low budget.X (formerly Twitter)X (formerly Twitter)startupspells.com

3) The Core Function is the "Few Seconds to Overcome Impulse"

The design philosophy of Quittr is to intervene in the "few seconds before relapse." It includes a "panic button" that vibrates the device and activates the camera to make users confront their "current self." Gamification helps restore self-efficacy by building short-term goals. Mutual encouragement is facilitated through community bulletin boards, and mindfulness helps ride out waves of craving. The app store description suggests it is not just a blocker but a "relational" habit design tool.InfoMoneyGoogle PlayApple

4) Both "Joy" and "Discomfort"—The Temperature Difference on Social Media

Reactions on social media and bulletin boards are sharply divided.

• Positive: Posts sharing experiences like "I struggled for years, but this became an exit." There are also voices saying the community became a receptacle for "unbearable feelings."Reddit

• Negative/Practical Issues: Technical questions about blocking behavior on Android, the search for free alternatives, and resistance to subscription prices.Reddit

• Ideological Opposition: Criticisms like "pathologizing young people's natural sexual exploration." A Norwegian sex education expert even described it as "exploitation," advocating for more open sex education.aftenposten.no

5) Examining the "Quality" of the Numbers

Glamorous KPIs are central to storytelling, but verification is a different matter.

• Downloads & Daily Active Users: 1 million downloads and 150,000 daily active users are enough to speak of "momentum." However, downloads are cumulative, daily active users are a metric that can be arbitrarily defined by the operator, and there is no information on retention rates.InfoMoney

• Revenue: Monthly revenue of $500,000 is within a range that does not contradict the annual subscription fee of £29.99, but it is unclear how refunds, promotions, and regional pricing were handled. The primary source for the media is figures published in a tabloid, with no external audits indicated.The Sun

• Effectiveness: A one-year abstinence rate of 41% is noteworthy, but the design of the control group, self-reporting bias, and definition of the measurement point are lacking. To speak of it as evidence, peer-reviewed papers and third-party evaluations are needed.The Week

6) Ethics and Law—How to Handle the "People We Want to Protect"

Reports mention that "about half of the users are under 18." If true, handling of personal data, parental consent, and the ethics of behavioral change interventions become paramount. Additionally, in a tide where age verification through facial scans is spreading, privacy protection, cross-border data transfer, and accountability to supervisory authorities are also significant. The "lines to protect" become more pronounced as the business expands.aftenposten.noThe Washington Post

7) Is "Anti-Porn" a Business or a Movement?

With the wind of regulation at its back, Quittr has commercialized behavioral science and community, creating initial momentum through the power of social media. Meme ads and the founder's messages skillfully translate anti-porn discourse and self-improvement culture into a "story that can be shared enjoyably." On the other hand, the three heavy tasks of handling minors, privacy, and verification remain. Unless these are carefully addressed, the success story could easily crumble.

8) Checklist for Investors, Entrepreneurs, and Parents

• Check for "external verification" of KPIs (audits, third-party measurements, disclosure of churn rates).

• Confirm the effectiveness of interventions, including effect size, follow-up period, and control group design.

• Consent and protection processes for minor users (age estimation, parental involvement, crisis intervention pathways).

• Ensure data minimization and processing within the device. Do not acquire facial data or sensitive information as a principle.

• Marketing should emphasize "self-care" over "fear appeal." Community management should be supervised by experts.

• Constant monitoring of regulatory trends (age verification mandates, app store policies, advertising regulations).

  The Washington Post

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