Ryan didn’t open his phone with the intention of finding porn. But when the 11-year-old came across it on his social media feed, he was intrigued. As he watched, he experienced a rush of curiosity and excitement.
Soon, his brain was hooked on that dopamine rush. It became a daily routine.
He told himself he could stop if he wanted to, but the habit grew from something he did in the confines of his bedroom to an all-consuming urge. His parents installed internet blockers, but he got around them. By the time sixth grade started, he was ducking out of class up to three times a day to watch porn and masturbate in the bathroom.
“Porn is just an emotional crutch to avoid all of the feelings that I didn't even realize I was having,” says Ryan, now 25, who, like others USA TODAY spoke to for this story, requested that his last name be withheld because of the sensitive nature of the topic.
Many Gen Z men, who grew up with smartphones and unrestricted internet access, say they happened upon porn early and frequently. Some now describe themselves as addicted and are turning to a fast-growing community of men online who are trying to help each other break these habits. Research shows that men struggle with compulsive porn consumption more than women.
