Edging, tab-jumping, and more: Researchers identify behavioral markers of problematic pornography use
Peer-Reviewed Publication
Updates every hour. Last Updated: 18-Dec-2025 03:11 ET (18-Dec-2025 08:11 GMT/UTC)
Digital technology—and especially the Internet—has revolutionized the way we work, study, socialize, and entertain ourselves. Alongside the global increase in screen time, both public and academic attention to potentially addictive digital behaviors has grown.
One such behavior is online pornography consumption. A study published in Addictive Behaviors, conducted by researchers from Monash University (Australia), the D’Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), and the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), investigated problematic pornography use (PPU), particularly in men.
The Covid-19 pandemic exposed longstanding inequalities in healthcare access worldwide, particularly in Brazil. These disparities were especially evident in access to hospital beds and vaccines, disproportionately affecting low-income communities in major cities and regions with lower human development indices.
In response, the Vacina Maré project was launched in 2021 to expand vaccination coverage and study health data in favelas during the pandemic. This ongoing initiative was developed by the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), the Redes da Maré organization, and the Rio de Janeiro City Hall, with support from the D’Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR) and several other research institutions.
The Maré Complex, home to 16 favelas and approximately 140,000 residents, became a focal point for community-driven health interventions. Among these efforts, Vacina Maré stood out as part of a broader strategy that included vaccination campaigns, local health surveillance, telemedicine support, social assistance, and risk communication. The initiative’s success was largely due to the massive engagement of the local population, which led to international recognition, including presentations at the World Health Organization (WHO), the Brazilian Ministry of Health, and various global research centers.
In striking new statistics, experts warn of social media’s growing grip on young people, with use among children and teens soaring by more than 200% since before COVID and showing no sign of decline.