‘AI Porn Addiction’ – Another Moral Crusade in the Making

Well, here we go again. The moral crusaders have found their new boogeyman, and surprise — it’s technology that allows people to explore their sexuality in private. According to psychotherapist David Kavanagh, Irish men are supposedly flocking to treatment centers for “AI porn addiction,” a condition that doesn’t even officially exist in any diagnostic manual.

Irish Catholicism may be on the wane, but old habits die hard when it comes to sex and sin – even into the era of AI. Let’s break down this latest panic, shall we?

The ‘Expert’ Opinion

David Kavanagh, who conveniently works with people seeking help for “addictions,” claims that more clients are presenting with obsessions around AI porn. How many exactly? The article doesn’t say. But we’re told it’s “more and more people” in “the last few months.” Hardly scientific rigor, is it?

Kavanagh’s theory follows the tired old addiction narrative: users start with mainstream porn, move to OnlyFans, and then—gasp—turn to AI for more control and novelty. This “progression” theory has been trotted out for decades about everything from marijuana to video games. It’s always the same slippery slope argument with little evidence to back it up.

The Science That Isn’t There

Here’s what the article conveniently buries: there’s no officially recognized diagnostic criteria for ‘porn addiction.’ Attempts to include ‘hypersexuality disorder’ in the DSM-5 failed due to a lack of consistent evidence. But why let science get in the way of a good moral panic?

Instead, we get vague talk about “habituation” and “dopamine” — words that sound scientific but are being used here to pathologize normal human behavior. The brain seeks novelty? Shocking! Next you’ll tell me people get bored of eating the same food every day.

The Real Agenda

What’s really happening here is a classic case of moral entrepreneurs trying to control consensual adult behavior. The article quickly pivots from supposed “addiction” to the real concerns: non-consensual imagery and the potential for harm. These are legitimate issues, but they’re being conflated with consensual adult use of AI porn.

The toolkit from University College Cork focuses on “harmful engagement” with AI-generated explicit imagery, but the article uses this to paint all AI porn use with the same brush. It’s like saying all alcohol consumption is problematic because some people drink and drive.

The Cherry-Picked Data

The article throws in some statistics about porn use in Ireland — 64% of young men versus 13% of young women seek it out. We’re told porn users have “poorer wellbeing,” are “less satisfied with their lives,” and report “more depressive symptoms.” But correlation doesn’t equal causation, folks. Could it be that people who are already struggling with wellbeing issues are more likely to seek out porn? Nah, that doesn’t fit the narrative.

We also get the classic “porn makes men aggressive” claim, with references to lower condom use and less willingness to intervene in sexual assault. Again, these studies show correlation, not causation. But why bother with nuance when you can create a panic?

The Treatment Industry

Of course, there’s a solution to this manufactured crisis: therapy and pharmaceuticals. Kavanagh helpfully mentions that some individuals may be prescribed naltrexone — a drug used to reduce compulsive internet use for sexual gratification. How convenient that the “problem” has a pharmaceutical solution. Side-effects from this nasty little chemical include fatigue, dizziness, sleeplessness, headaches, and anxiety. Patients will near inevitably experience withdrawal symptoms when their doctor finally lets them stop taking it.

In a moment of stunning insight (or perhaps dollar signs flashing before his eyes), Kavanagh notes that “people who have money will find it easier to be treated than those who are poor, like all addictions.” You don’t say? The treatment industry is accessible primarily to those with resources? Who could have possibly guessed?

Moral Panic Journalism

The Irish Journal article is a textbook example of moral panic journalism. Take a new technology, find an “expert” willing to pathologize it, throw in some cherry-picked statistics, and presto—you’ve got yourself a crisis that conveniently requires more therapy, more pharmaceuticals, and more control over people’s private lives.

The reality is that AI porn is simply another tool for sexual exploration. Like any tool, it can be used responsibly or irresponsibly. But instead of having an honest conversation about consent, ethics, and responsible use, we get this recycled addiction narrative that serves the interests of the treatment industry and moral crusaders.

So to all you AI porn enthusiasts out there: enjoy your fantasies responsibly, ignore the moral panic, and remember that when someone starts talking about “addiction” without scientific backing, they’re usually trying to sell you something – in this case, expensive therapy and a return to sexual repression.