#5: Loss of money

Cost #5: Loss of money

As with most addictions, like gambling, drinking, narcotics or prescription drugs, porn addiction is not exempt from the spending of cash. The porn industry is a multi-billion dollar industry. Here are some interesting facts (Source:here and here):

• $13.3 billion in the United States; $97 billion worldwide (Internet Filter Review).
• U.S. adult DVD/video rentals in 2005: almost 1 billion (Adult Video News).
• Hotel viewership for adult films: 55% (cbsnews.com).
• Unique worldwide users visiting adult web sites monthly: 72 million (Internet Filter Review).
• Number of hardcore pornography titles released in 2005 (U.S.): 13,588 (Internet Filter Review).
• Every second- $3,075.64 is being spent on pornography
  Every second – 28,258 Internet users are viewing pornography
  Every second – 372 Internet users are typing adult search terms into search engines
  Every 39 minutes: a new pornographic video is being created in the United States
• “The pornography industry is larger than the revenues of the top technology companies combined: Microsoft, Google, Amazon, eBay, Yahoo!, Apple, Netflix and EarthLink.”
• Video Sales & Rentals and Magazine Sales decreased from 2005 to 2006 ($0.71 billion)
• Internet porn was a $2.84 billion industry (2006)
• Cable / PPV / In-Room / Mobile / Phone Sex was a $2.19 billion industry (2006)
• Exotic Dance Clubs remains a $2 billion industry (2006)

This is a lot of money. Now, beyond the money spent, consider the money lost by pursuing such endeavors. There was one such report (and here) of a senior executive at NSF (National Science Foundation ) who spent 20% of his work over two years on pornographic endeavors costing the company $58,000 for his time alone (plus loss of productivity and potential revunue it would have produced either in cost savings or process improvement or ideas). This has potentially costed American companies $85 billion (See other stats here). While there are many free internet porn sites, over time, this does not satisfy.

I once had a friend who was an avid smoker, and he always complained about not having any money. So one day I told him, “Dude, if you’d stop smoking, you’d have so much more money.” Does this not apply to sex addicts? Does this not apply to porn addicts? See a smoker can smoke and if he throws out the pack after one cigarette he’s out at most $5. However, when a porn addict purchases a magazine or a DVD/video etc, the cost is much higher (except maybe with magazines).

Do you know how much you have spent on your porn? Do you want to encourage the porn industry? Do you want to place $5 more in Hugh Hefner’s pocket (or anyone else for that matter)? Could that money go to a better use with you or your family or your neighbor? I know I don’t. So commit with me not to use your money in this manner, even if we slip, we won’t be slipping with our wallets. Let’s commit to use our money elsewhere.