Many workers admit to taking breaks to scroll through Instagram, shop for new sneakers, or check a dating app. But what about porn? That’s definitely a taboo topic. Psychologists, adult content platforms, and cybersecurity experts agree it’s no longer rare. Online porn has become easier to access and more popular than ever.
Fascinating Research on Watching Porn at the Office
There’s limited scientific research on how common porn consumption is during the workday. But recent surveys show it happens—sometimes surprising workers themselves. A global lifestyle survey by Sugarcookie with 2,000 participants found over 60% had watched porn at work. Kaspersky’s 2020 study revealed that more than half of remote workers admitted to watching porn on devices also used for work tasks.
Last year, Pornhub—the world’s largest adult entertainment site—confirmed that people watch content during work hours. While 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. is the peak time, 4 p.m. ranks second. Some link daytime viewing to remote work trends, but data shows similar mid-afternoon spikes even before the pandemic.
Possible Consequences at Work
High-profile media stories about people caught watching porn at work highlight how widespread it is. British MP Neil Parish resigned in April after viewing adult content on his phone in Parliament. A Swedish prison guard had their salary cut for watching porn at work. An Australian airline engineer was fired for viewing adult content on a company-owned tablet.
Given the serious risks, it’s natural to wonder why people still choose to watch porn at work or on company devices.
Psychological studies show the most common reasons people watch porn are boredom or wanting to distract themselves from other emotions.
Adults also use adult content for fantasy—to experience or observe things not available in their own sex lives. Curiosity, self-exploration (understanding personal desires), and of course personal sexual pleasure are among the top reasons.
Craig Jackson, occupational health psychology professor at Birmingham City University (UK), says these factors almost all influence why people click on porn at work. But he notes most who watch adult content in physical work settings don’t use it like they would at home. There, it’s less about self-pleasure and more about distraction.
