"More Men Want to Reduce Porn Consumption"—A Canadian Survey Reflects Changes in Sexual Life

In today's world, opening a smartphone provides almost unlimited access to sexual content.

In the past, accessing adult content required purchasing magazines, renting DVDs, or visiting specialty stores, which posed certain hurdles. However, now a simple search yields a plethora of videos and images, and even social media is flooded with content designed to be sexually stimulating.

On the other hand, a contrary trend is emerging among men.

Instead of "wanting more," it's "wanting less."

According to a recent survey conducted in Canada, more than half of men are currently trying to reassess their porn-watching habits.

This figure indicates more than just a trend of abstinence.

Sex drive, erections, relationships with partners, use of personal time—

For a generation where porn has become commonplace, more men are questioning, "Do I really need this?"

54% of Canadian Men Attempting to "Reduce or Quit"

A survey conducted by the online medical service MedExpress Canada in 2026 involved 1,022 Canadian men.

The results showed that 54% are currently trying to reduce or completely quit watching porn.

Furthermore, 17% are aiming for complete cessation.

When viewed by generation, Generation Z stands out.

Among Generation Z men, 65% are currently trying to reduce or quit porn, and including those who have tried in the past, the figure reaches 82%.

Among Millennials, it was 68%, and Generation X was 58%, indicating that younger generations are more likely to recognize their porn use as a problem and are trying to change their behavior.

Why are younger people, who should be most accustomed to digital content, trying to distance themselves from it?

The Main Reason is Not "Morality" but Their Own Sex Life

What is interesting in the survey is the reason for trying to reduce porn.

More people cited their own sexual responses and romantic relationships rather than values like religion or ethics.

28% answered that they want to "regain natural sexual desire and arousal."

26% want to "improve intimacy with their partner."

25% want to "reduce reliance on porn for arousal."

In other words, the focus is not on whether watching porn is right or wrong.

Rather,

"I feel less excited about real sex than before."

"I can't get excited without looking at a screen."

"I choose videos over my partner more often."

These are feelings of discomfort with changes in themselves.

There is another figure that symbolizes this change.

About 1 in 4 Believe They Have Experienced "Porn-Induced ED"

24% of survey participants answered that they have experienced erectile dysfunction they believe was caused by porn, either currently or in the past.

On the internet, this is commonly referred to as "PIED (Porn-Induced Erectile Dysfunction)."

Furthermore, 18% of men who watch porn five or more times a week reported currently experiencing PIED, compared to 1% of men who do not watch at all.

This results in a simple comparison showing a significant difference of 18 times.

Additionally, 56% of respondents experienced some change in physical or sexual response they associate with porn.

28% said they now need more stimulating or novel content to get excited as they used to.

24% reported a decreased desire for real-life sex.

20% said their satisfaction with sex with their actual partner has decreased.

Looking at the numbers alone, it seems that porn has a considerable impact on men's sexual function.

However, there is an important caveat here.

It's Not Accurate to Say "Porn Causes ED"

What this survey revealed is the fact that individuals feel there is a connection with porn.

It is not a study that proves porn viewing itself directly causes ED.

This is a very important distinction.

ED has many causes.

Stress, anxiety, depression, lack of sleep, obesity, lack of exercise, smoking, drinking, side effects of medication, hormones, diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and pressure during intercourse are among them.

In young men, psychological factors may have a greater impact than physical ones.

Scientific research also shows that conclusions about porn and ED are not straightforward.

A systematic review published in 2026 examining male sexual function and porn consumption reported inconsistent results in past studies.

While some studies show a connection between porn use and decreased sexual function, simple viewing frequency alone does not clearly demonstrate a relationship.

A 2021 study targeting young men also found that it was not just "how many times they watched" but "problematic porn use" that was significant.

What emerges from this is that the issue cannot be explained by a binary of "viewers" and "non-viewers."

More important than the number of times per week is whether:

They watch even though they don't want to.

The sexual stimuli keep getting stronger.

They cut into daily life or work time.

They prioritize it over their relationship with their partner.

They keep repeating it even when trying to stop.

These conditions might be more important.

"Even When Thinking 'I Should Quit,' It Doesn't Last"

This difficulty is also reflected in the numbers from the survey.

Men who have tried to reduce or quit porn have attempted an average of four times.

For Generation Z, the average is five times.

And 44% of men currently trying have lasted less than two weeks.

59% have lasted less than a month.

Only 13% have continued for more than a year.

This indicates a significant barrier between feeling "I should reduce" and actually changing habits.

This is not surprising.

Current porn doesn't even require actively seeking it out.

Smartphones are available 24/7, and sexual images or short videos may appear in social media recommendations.

Once related content is viewed, algorithms suggest more similar content.

It's not just human willpower; the digital environment itself repeatedly presents stimuli.

Therefore, setting a goal of "not watching at all" could deepen self-loathing with each failure.

On Social Media, Voices Say "Quitting Changed My Life"

This theme has been repeatedly discussed on social media platforms like Reddit.

 

Note that the following posts are not direct comments on the current Toronto Sun article but are related threads discussing experiences of quitting porn and its impact on sexual life.

A man in his 30s posted that he quit watching porn after feeling it affected not only his sexual function but also his work, social life, and romantic relationships.

After quitting, he found he could enjoy daily activities like music, reading, cooking, walking, and conversations with people more than before.

Another man quit porn for two reasons: difficulty achieving erections during real sex and a desire to spend time on more productive activities.

In another thread asking about the impact on romantic relationships,

experiences like "satisfaction from real sex decreased,"

"emotional connection with the partner weakened,"

and "after quitting, I could focus on my relationship with my partner" were shared.

These voices resonate with the 26% of men in the MedExpress survey who said they wanted to "improve intimacy."

On the Other Hand, There's Also the Argument "Don't Blame Everything on Porn"

Discussions on social media are not one-sided.

Many people oppose the idea of completely denying porn.

One man explained that because there is a difference in sexual desire between him and his spouse, using porn actually reduces the burden on their relationship.

He uses it as a means to handle sexual desires when his partner does not want intercourse, rather than choosing porn over sex with his partner.

In another discussion,

opinions were expressed such as "distinguish between watching porn itself and being in a state of dependency,"

"ED has many causes, such as stress and anxiety,"

and "don't self-diagnose PIED, consult a doctor."

These align with the cautious stance of medical research.

In other words, the simple equation "watching porn = sexual dysfunction" is not scientifically supported.

On social media, strong success stories tend to stand out.

Experiences like "my life changed after quitting for 90 days,"

"my concentration dramatically increased,"

and "all sexual functions returned" are shared, but interpreting these as universal medical effects is dangerous.

It's necessary to separate personal experiences from scientific causality.

What Truly Deserves Attention Might Be the "4%" Rather Than the "54%"

The most concerning figure from this survey is not that "54% are trying to reduce porn."

It's that only 4% of men consulted a specialist.

16% considered consulting but did not.

Even among high-frequency users who watch five or more times a week, 25% considered consulting a specialist, but only 3% actually did.

Despite trying to change their habits an average of four times alone, very few consult specialists.

There is likely hesitation about whether it's appropriate to go to a hospital for such an issue.

Sexual issues are difficult to talk about.

Especially explaining to a doctor, "I feel like I'm watching too much porn," or "I can't get excited with my partner but can with videos," poses a significant psychological hurdle.

However, if ED persists, it's better not to narrow down the cause to one thing by self-judgment.

ED can sometimes appear as a sign of a physical illness.

If the issue is related to anxiety, pressure, or relationships with a partner, a simple "porn abstinence" may not resolve it.

Caution Is Also Needed with the Word "Addiction"

The term "porn addiction" is frequently used on the internet.

However, this also needs to be handled carefully.

Simply watching porn frequently does not qualify as medical addiction.

What's important is not the frequency but whether one can no longer control their actions and whether it causes significant problems in work, studies, or relationships.

Research also points out cases where guilt over sexual behavior or conflicts with values lead individuals to feel they are addicted.

Strong guilt about sex itself can become a source of stress, potentially negatively affecting sexual function.

Therefore,

"Watching itself is bad,"

or,

"No matter how much you watch, there's no problem,"

neither of these extreme positions can adequately explain reality.

Before Making Porn a Problem, Consider "Are You Choosing It Yourself?"

When considering this issue, there is a clear standard.

Are you watching because you want to, or are you watching even though you want to quit?

There is a significant difference between the two.

If it's used as entertainment without affecting work or romance, and you can choose to watch or not, then there's no need to uniformly view the behavior as problematic.

Conversely,

the time spent watching keeps increasing.

You can't get excited unless the content is highly stimulating.

You prioritize the screen over real-life partners.

You're sacrificing work or sleep time.

You keep returning even when you want to quit.

If these changes are causing significant distress, it's worth reevaluating