Decrease in Pornography Consumption Among Students
The 2025 Survey on Drug Use in Secondary School Students (ESTUDES) has revealed a positive trend regarding substance-free addictions among youth. Notably, there has been a slight reduction in problematic internet usage and pornography consumption among students, though gambling—both online and in-person—has seen an increase.
Current Statistics on Pornography Use
According to Javier Padilla, the Secretary of State for Health, the data from this survey, which involved 35,256 students from February 10 to June 10, 2025, indicates a noteworthy decline. This decrease follows a peak observed during the pandemic. Despite some positive signs, Padilla urges caution, suggesting that we should wait to see if this decline is a sustained trend or a momentary drop.
Interestingly, the survey reveals that the problematic use of internet is more prevalent among girls than boys. For the specific age group of 14-18 years, boys are estimated to consume pornography approximately three times more than girls.
Problematic Usage Among Different Genders
The data also highlights a 2.5 percentage point drop in problematic internet use among girls, now sitting at 23.4%, which still exceeds the 15.5% reported for boys. Furthermore, 15.3% of students reported problematic social media use, with a slightly higher prevalence among girls (15.7%). In contrast, 84.4% of students engage with video games, predominantly males (96.8% vs. 71.8% for females).
Approximately 8.6% of male students may display signs of potential video game addiction, a stark contrast to 1.8% among females.
Declining Pornography Consumption
In 2025, the survey noted a decline in pornography consumption among secondary students, although over half of the respondents acknowledged having used pornography in the past year. Specifically, 4.1% of students exhibit problematic consumption of pornography, with a marked prevalence among boys (7.2% compared to 1% in girls).
The Impact of Gambling Among Minors
Gambling Trends on the Rise
Javier Padilla, along with Xisca Sureda, government delegate for the National Drug Plan, reported that 13% of secondary students participated in online gambling, while 20.9% engaged in in-person gambling. These figures are higher than those of previous years, especially concerning boys, who show higher gambling rates in both formats.
Gender Differences in Gambling
The survey indicates that gambling behaviors differ by gender. Male students tend to favor online sports betting and roulette, while females are more inclined towards bingo and online roulette. In physical gambling settings, females participate more in lotteries and bingo, while males opt for roulette and slot machines.
Males also spend significantly more money on gambling than females, both online and in-person. The likelihood of problematic gambling increases among those who gamble frequently and spend larger amounts, particularly exceeding 61 euros in a single day.
Conclusion
The findings from the ESTUDES survey reveal important trends regarding the consumption of pornography and gambling among students. While there are indications of reduced pornography use, the rise in gambling activities, particularly among males, poses new challenges. Continued monitoring and support are crucial in addressing these evolving behaviors in youth.