2. Table of Contents
Research Design...........……………………………………………………………………..…… 3
Findings…………………….…….…….……...……….………..…………………….…………….. 5
Pastors…………………….…….…….……...……….………..…………….………………………. 23
The Church’s Need for Resources…………………………………………….……………. 31
2
4. Who Was Surveyed in the Study?
Note: colors correspond to graphs throughout this report
* Small sample size – interpret with caution
All participants completed an online survey, and data for the general population and
pastors is weighted to be nationally representative.
Audience Definition Sample Size
TEENS 13 – 17 303
YOUNG ADULTS 18 – 24 510
COVENANT EYES
TEENS & YOUNG
ADULTS
13 – 24 47*
ADULTS 25 + 1,188
COVENANT EYES
ADULTS
25+ 470
PASTORS Senior Pastor 432
YOUTH PASTORS Youth Pastor 338
4
6. Is that Porn?
10% 10%
21%
7%
19%
28%
25%
50%
39%
53%
24%
41%
64%
54%
78%
69%
83%
53%
91%
86%
80%
57% 58%
68%
63%
89% 89% 87%
90%
87% 85%
79%
93%
96% 95%
TEENS YOUNG ADULTSCOVENANT EYES TEENS & YOUNG ADULTSADULTS COVENANT EYES ADULTS YOUTH PASTORS PASTORS
a partially nude image a fully nude image a fully nude image that is sexually arousing
an image of a sexual act that is not intercourse an image of sexual intercourse
Which of these things would you consider to be “porn”?
Sexual intercourse is the most common defining factor for considering an image porn—
sexual arousal also plays a large part in people viewing an image as porn.
6
7. Is that Porn?
37%
33%
43%
80% 80% 79%
TOTAL ADULTS TEENS & YOUNG ADULTS
% males who think porn is ‘fully nude image that’s sexually arousing’ AND ‘image of
sexual act that is not intercourse’ AND ‘image of sexual intercourse’
General Population Covenant Eyes Cohort
Which of these things would you consider to be “porn”?
Especially among males, Covenant Eyes clients are more than twice as likely than the
general population to have a more conservative view of what defines pornography
7
8. What is ‘Definitely Porn?’
What of these things would you definitely consider porn? Among those who currently use porn.
46%
32%
61%
71%
71%
50%
82%
82%
79%
100%
31%
14%
18%
41%
46%
23%
47%
55%
70%
83%
TEENS & YOUNG
ADULTS
CE TEENS & YOUNG
ADULTS
84%
66%
61%
32%
32%
26%
30%
11%
9%
22%
98%
96%
90%
90%
83%
81%
80%
75%
52%
44%
ADULTS
CE ADULTS
Teens & Young Adults generally consider more types of images to be pornography,
compared to Adults.
partially nude still pictures
sex scenes that are a short part of a
broader story in a movie/video/TV
chatting/texting about sexual acts with
someone you do not know personally
partially nude show or dance
fully nude still pictures
sex scenes described in a written story
(no pictures)
still pictures of sexual acts
close-up still pictures of genitals
fully nude show or dance
sex scenes that make up most or all of a
video, with very little story
8
9. Situations that Define Porn
70%
60%
53%
40%
39%
48%
27%
25%
30%
23%
17%
93%
82%
82%
79%
68%
61%
50%
50%
43%
43%
43%
If you watch/listen/read it specifically for the purpose of sexual arousal
If you masturbate while viewing/reading
If you pay for an image that is sexual in nature
If you get sexual images for free
If the image is NOT personal - of someone you don’t know
If you interact with someone or something sexual in nature
If you watch/listen/read it alone
If the image is personal - of someone you know
If you watch/listen/read with a romantic partner
If the nude person is yourself
If you watch/listen/read with friends
TEENS & YOUNG ADULTS
CE TEENS & YOUNG ADULTS
Which of these situations could make an image or words porn?
The context of seeing an image – for sexual arousal especially – is important in determining
whether something is porn or not.
9
10. What Is Wrong With the World?
Different people have different ideas about what is right and wrong in our world today. Take a look at this
list. For each one, what do you think about it? Is it…
• Taking something that belongs to someone else
• Having a romantic relationship with someone
other than a spouse
• Saying something that isn’t true
• Not recycling
• Viewing pornographic images
• Thinking negatively about someone with a
different point of view
• Reading erotic or pornographic content (no
pictures)
• Watching sexually explicit scenes on TV or in a
movie
• Wanting something that belongs to someone else
• Overeating
• Significant consumption of electricity or water
• Taking something that belongs to someone else
• Having a romantic relationship with someone
other than a spouse
• Saying something that isn’t true
• Viewing pornographic images
• Wanting something that belongs to someone else
• Reading erotic or pornographic content (no
pictures)
• Watching sexually explicit scenes on TV or in a
movie
• Thinking negatively about someone with a
different point of view
• Not recycling
• Overeating
• Significant consumption of electricity or water
Teens & Young Adults Adults
Teens & Young Adults consider not recycling more immoral than viewing porn.
+
R
A
N
K
-
10
11. What Is Wrong With the World?
Different people have different ideas about what is right and wrong in our world today. Take a look at this
list. For each one, what do you think about it? Is it…
• Viewing pornographic images
• Having a romantic relationship with someone
other than a spouse
• Taking something that belongs to someone else
• Reading erotic or pornographic content (no
pictures)
• Watching sexually explicit scenes on TV or in a
movie
• Saying something that isn’t true
• Thinking negatively about someone with a
different point of view
• Wanting something that belongs to someone else
• Overeating
• Not recycling
• Significant consumption of electricity or water
• Having a romantic relationship with someone
other than a spouse
• Viewing pornographic images
• Taking something that belongs to someone else
• Reading erotic or pornographic content (no
pictures)
• Watching sexually explicit scenes on TV or in a
movie
• Saying something that isn’t true
• Wanting something that belongs to someone else
• Overeating
• Thinking negatively about someone with a
different point of view
• Not recycling
• Significant consumption of electricity or water
CE Teens & Young Adults CE Adults+
R
A
N
K
-
11
Covenant Eyes clients have a much more negative relative perspective on pornography, with the
vast majority believing most forms are “always wrong.”
12. Is Porn Good or Bad for Society?
Overall, do you think that porn is a good or bad thing for our society?
Young Adults (18-24) are the least likely age group to say porn is bad for society
27%
14%
30%
24%
37%
59%
16%
17%
21%
20%
22%
22%
47%
48%
32%
44%
36%
19%
9%
14%
13%
10%
5%
2%
8%
4%
2%
13-17
18-24
25-30
31-49
51-69
70+
it is very bad for our society it is somewhat bad for our society it is neither good nor bad it is somewhat good for our society It is very good for society
12
GENERALPOPULATION
13. Is Porn Good or Bad for Society?
Overall, do you think that porn is a good or bad thing for our society?
Nearly all Covenant Eyes clients say porn is bad for society
85%
98%
97%
99%
9%
3%
1%
4%
2%
2%13-24
25-30
31-49
51-69
it is very bad for our society it is somewhat bad for our society
it is neither good nor bad it is somewhat good for our society
It is very good for society
13
COVENANTEYES
14. When Friends Talk about Porn, Context Is…
When you and your friends talk about pornography, is it most often in a way that’s disagreeable, neutral,
accepting, or encouraging?
More than half of teens and young adults talk about porn in a way that is completely
accepting. Only a small minority talk about it in a way that is disagreeable.
13%
40%
37%
11%
17%
43%
36%
5%
3%
11%
14%
73%
Encouraging - we talk about pornography in a positive,
even lighthearted way; no one is ashamed of viewing it
Accepting - it’s just assumed we all look at porn
sometimes
Neutral - we don’t really discuss the morality of it
Disagreeable - my friends think viewing pornography is
a bad thing
Gen Pop age 13-
17
Gen Pop age 18-
24
CE Teens &
Young Adults
14
15. Sexual Images That Are ‘Always Wrong’
What sexual images that involve any of these things are considered always wrong? Among those who
currently use porn.
Only child pornography, non-consensual, and painful sex are considered “always wrong”
by the majority of people.
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Children under the age of 12
Depictions of sexual acts that are not consensual (one or more of the people
did not agree to the act or to sharing it with others)
Sexual acts that may be forced or painful
Someone being depicted in a demeaning way
Teens
Sexual acts between two people of the same gender
Sexual acts involving more than two people at once
Gen Pop Teens & Young Adults
Gen Pop Adults
CE Teens & Young Adults
CE Adults
15
16. In Search of Porn
How often do you actively seek out porn?
Filtered by: Does your personal electronics equipment have pornography-blocking filters installed?
Regular pornography viewing is only somewhat less common among CE adults in the
general audience.
However, when the general population is filtered by those who have pornography-
blocking filters installed on their personal electronics (comparable to Covenant Eyes
clients), porn-seeking behavior is more common in the general population than
Covenant Eyes clients.
16
Adults
5%
11%
2%
11%
16%
7%
13%
22%
15%
18%
51%
38%
54%
37%
Gen Pop
Gen Pop filtered
Covenant Eyes
daily weekly once or twice a month less often never
17. In Search of Porn
How often do you actively seek out porn?
Filtered by: Do any of these apply to your personal experience with pornography? You are currently trying
to stop using porn
When the general population is filtered by those who are currently trying to stop using
porn (comparable to Covenant Eyes clients), porn-seeking behavior is more common in
the general population than Covenant Eyes clients.
5%
8%
2%
11%
13%
7%
13%
18%
15%
18%
60%
38%
54%
37%
Gen Pop
Gen Pop filtered
Covenant Eyes
daily weekly once or twice a month less often never
Adults
17
18. In Search of Porn
How often do you actively seek out porn?
Regular pornography viewing is much less common among Covenant Eyes teens, even
without adding any filters to the general population.
10%
2%
23%
11%
16%
13%
19%
36%
32%
38%
Gen Pop
Covenant Eyes
daily weekly once or twice a month less often never
Teens & Young Adults
18
19. Possibility of Addiction
Do you believe it is possible to be addicted to pornography?
Covenant Eyes adults who use porn nearly unanimously agree that it is addicting. Only
about half the general population thinks so.
49%
62%
60%
69%
94%
38%
22%
22%
21%
4%
7%
9%
11%
4%
married
all single
never married
ever divorced
CE Adults
55%30%
8%
6%
Definitely
Possibly
Definitely not
Not sure
Prefer not to answer
94%
Gen Pop Adults who use porn Covenant Eyes Adults who use porn
19
20. Social Porn and ‘Sexting’
Has anyone ever sent you a nude image, via text, email, social media, or app?
Have you ever sent a nude image—of yourself or anyone—via text, email, social media, or app?
Two-thirds of Teens and Young Adults have received a sexually explicit image, usually
from their boy/girlfriend or friend.
Received a nude image? Sent a nude image?
yes
63%
no
37%
Yes
39%
No
61%
Teens&YoungAdultsCovenantEyes
20
yes
41%
no
59%
Yes
14%
No
86%
21. Accountability
Do you have anyone in your life who is helping you avoid pornography?
Both Teens & Young Adults and Adults rely mainly on their significant other
(boyfriend/girlfriend/spouse/partner) to help them avoid porn.
yes
13%
no
87%
yes
21%
no
79%
Gen Pop Teens & Young Adults Gen Pop Adults
Do you have anyone in your life who is helping you avoid pornography?
21
yes
84%
no
16%
yes
90%
no
10%
CE Teens & Young Adults CE Adults
22. Covenant Eyes 22
Age
Percentage
N=47
13 – 17 38%
18 – 24 62%
Age
Percentage
N=47
25-30 11%
31-50 57%
51+ 32%
Faith Segment
Percentage
N=47
Evangelical 45%
Born Again (Non-
evangelical)
45%
Notional Christian 2%
Other Faith 2%
None / no faith 6%
Faith Segment
Percentage
N=470
Evangelical 66%
Born Again (Non-
evangelical)
30%
Notional Christian 3%
Other Faith 1%
None / no faith 0%
Teens & Young Adults
Adults
24. The Pastor’s Experience on Porn
Which of the following would you say are true of your personal experience using pornography? For
these items, please rate them according to whether each is true of your personal experience using
pornography.
BASE: Pastors Who Currently Use Porn
86%
86%
71%
51%
41%
4%
3%
62%
56%
70%
39%
21%
5%
6%
mostly view pornography online
deleted browsing history on my
computer to hide my activity
mostly view pornography at home
started viewing pornography before
puberty
mostly view pornography on phone
mostly view pornography at work
sometimes pay for porn
YOUTH PASTOR
PASTOR
41%
45%
30%
5%
36%
38%
21%
17%
It sometimes hurts my relationships
It negatively affects my sex life
Porn hurts my productivity (e.g., at work)
It positively affects my sex life
94%
86%
1%
5%
YOUTH PASTOR
PASTOR
I feel a sense of guilt when I use porn It doesn't really bother me to use it
83%
68%
71%
54%
I am currently trying to stop using
porn
I have tried to stop using it, but have
been unable to (or started again)
View on Porn
History & Avenues Effects of Porn
Stop Use
24
25. Porn’s Impact on Ministry
For these items, please rate them according to whether each is true of your personal experience using
pornography.
7%
9%
12%
30%
27%
20%
55%
41%
YOUTH PASTOR
PASTOR
very true somewhat true not really true not at all true
44%
18%
31%
46%
14%
27%
12%
9%
YOUTH PASTOR
PASTOR
very true somewhat true not really true not at all true
The nature of my job makes it easier to use pornography secretly
The use of porn negatively impacted my ministry
BASE: Pastors Who Currently Use Porn
25
26. Youth Pastors who Currently Struggle with Porn
68 out of 321 Youth Pastors currently struggle with porn use.
95% of Youth Pastors who use porn feel a great sense of shame about it while 3% feel
empowered after using porn and 15% are becoming increasingly bold in seeking it out.
62%
22%
18%
4%
32%
22%
38%
11%
3%
3%
12%
27%
28%
24%
3%
45%
18%
57%
73%
I feel a great sense of shame about my pornography use
Pornography provides a sense of escape from the pressures of my role
I live in constant fear of being discovered
I have become increasingly bold in seeking out pornography
I feel empowered after using pornography
very true somewhat true not really true not at all true
75% 72%
46% 36%
14%
22% 29%
52% 64%
80%
trusted friends spouse other pastors girlfriend/boyfriend elders or deacons at your
church
no
yes
Youth Pastors feel...
Who knows about your porn use?
26
27. Pastors who Currently Struggle with Porn
56 out of 412 Pastors currently struggle with porn use.
87% of Pastors who use porn feel a great sense of shame about it while 10% feel
empowered after using porn and 8% are becoming increasingly bold in seek it out.
59%
17%
16%
28%
38%
37%
10%
8%
9%
35%
18%
8%
23%
4%
10%
29%
82%
69%
I feel a great sense of shame about my pornography use
I live in constant fear of being discovered
Pornography provides a sense of escape from the pressures of being a pastor
I feel empowered after using pornography
I became increasingly bold in seeking out pornography
very true somewhat true not really true not at all true
58% 54%
30%
10% 8% 0%
37% 43%
65%
86% 88% 94%
spouse trusted friends other pastors a few people in your
congregation
elders or deacons at
your church
most of your
congregation
no
yes
Pastors feel...
Who knows about your porn use?
27
28. Recommended Resources
Which of these resources have you used or recommended as you work with those who struggle with
pornography? Does your church electronics equipment have pornography-blocking filters installed?
Many churches do not have porn-blocking filters installed on their electronics
equipment, even though 59% pastors recommend them as a resource for those
struggling with porn.
7%
15%
24%
45%
52%
59%
71%
personal
counseling
internet
monitoring /
filtering
accountability
groups
mentors
topic-specific
Bible study
groups
none
other
yes, 33%
no, 42%
not sure,
26%yes, 38%
no, 49%
not sure,
13%
Pastor Recommended Resources for those who struggle with Porn
Does your church electronics equipment have pornography-blocking filters installed?
Pastors Youth Pastors
28
29. Do Leaders Feel Equipped?
Would you say that leaders in your church are well-equipped to help those who struggle with porn?
Pastors feel fairly well equipped to help someone struggling with pornography. However,
Christian Adults aren’t as sure pastors are equipped.
15%
58%
25%
3%
very well equipped somewhat equipped
not really well equipped not at all equipped
How equipped
Do Pastors Feel?
10%
33%
45%
13%
very well equipped somewhat equipped
not really well equipped not at all equipped
How equipped
Do Christians think Pastors are?
29
30. Effectiveness of Resources
How effective are the following strategies for teens who are struggling with porn? Which of these
resources have you used or recommended?
Youth Pastors find 1-on-1 activities such as mentoring and personal counseling to be a
more effective strategy than group activities and filtering devices, although they
frequently recommend the latter.
65%
46%
38%
25%
8%
32%
49%
51%
50%
56%
3%
5%
9%
24%
34%
2%
2%
3%
mentors
personal counseling
accountability groups
internet monitoring / filtering
topic-specific Bible study
very effective somewhat effective not too effective not at all effective
82%
79%
76%
72%
45%
11%
mentors
internet monitoring / filtering
personal counseling
accountability groups
topic-specific Bible study…
other
How effective are the following strategies for teens who are struggling with porn?
Which of these resources have you used or recommended?
30
32. Porn Use as a Problem in the Church
Below is a list of challenges some pastors say their congregation wrestles with. For each one, would you
say this is a bigger or smaller problem for your congregation compared to pornography.
While Pastors believe there are many problems bigger than porn use, 39% of Pastors see
porn use as a significant or major problem in the church.
81%
74%
71%
71%
68%
50%
49%
37%
36%
spiritual immaturity
lack of biblical knowledge
hedonism / self indulgence
pride
lack of involvement with the church
anger
tithing / generosity
drug and alcohol addiction
sexual promiscuity
3% 35% 50% 12%
major problem significant problem minor problem not really a problem
Are these a bigger problem than porn use?
How big of a problem is porn use in your congregation?
32
33. 6%
10%
2%
8%
15%
20%
2%
2%
10%
15%
6%
2%
5%
3%
21%
23%
21%
11%
7%
15%
61%
42%
43%
87%
84%
81%
daily weekly once or twice a month less often never
Who is struggling at Church?
59%
36%
33%
29%
5%
5%
4%
married men
single men
teenage boys
none of these
married women
single women
teenage girls
Pastors: Congregation members who sought my help How often do Practicing Christians Actively Seek Out Porn
Men of all ages and stages, but especially married men, are coming to Pastors for
help with pornography struggles.
34. Church Programs for Porn Use
Does your church currently run a program specifically designed to assist those struggling with porn? Has
your church EVER had such a program? If you used to have a program, why did the church discontinue it?
Most churches have not ever had programs specifically designed to assist those
struggling with porn use, and those who did discontinued for “lack of interest.”
yes,
7%
no,
93%
NO
Pastors:
6% 88% 6%
yes no not sure
54%
24% 19% 13% 9%
lack of interest other lack of leaders lack of resources lack of need
Does your church currently run a program specifically designed to assist those struggling with porn? (excluding “not sure”)
Has your church EVER had such a program?
If you used to have a program, why did the church discontinue it?
34
YES
50%
45% 43% 39%
9%
group
counseling
small groups /
Bible studies
individual
counseling
providing
specific content
(books, etc.)
other
35. Church Programs for Porn Use
Most churches do not have programs specifically designed to assist those struggling with
porn use.
9% 44% 47%
yes no not sure
Does your church currently run a program specifically designed to assist those struggling with porn?
35
Adults:
36. Effective Solutions
How effective do you think each of the following strategies are for Christians who are struggling with
pornography?
Both Adults and Pastors think solutions that are 1-on-1 are most effective
45%
43%
36%
30%
12%
46%
45%
56%
45%
51%
7%
11%
7%
20%
33%
4%
4%
mentors
accountability groups
personal counseling
internet monitoring / filtering
topic-specific Bible study…
very effective somewhat effective not too effective not at all effective
41%
40%
37%
32%
32%
49%
46%
47%
52%
39%
9%
13%
16%
14%
24% 6%
personal counseling
mentors
accountability groups
topic-specific Bible study…
internet monitoring/filtering
very effective somewhat effective not very effective not at all effective
What Adults Think...
What Pastors Think...
36
37. 14% 53% 27% 6%
Youth Pastors: Problem Among Teens?
To the best of your knowledge, how big of a problem is the use of pornography among the youth in your
church? Are these a bigger or smaller problem than porn use?
Youth Pastors believe porn use is a much less significant problem among church teens
than teens in the general population.
79%
71%
63%
59%
50%
42%
34%
29%
spiritual immaturity
lack of biblical knowledge
hedonism / self indulgence
pride
lack of involvement with the church
sexual promiscuity
drug and alcohol addiction
anger
55% 40% 3% 1%
a major problem a significant problem a minor problem not really a problem
Among Teens
Among Church Teens
Which of these are a bigger problem than porn use?
37