Learning Strategies for Sensitive Content Detection

Currently, the volume of sensitive content on the Internet, such as pornography and child pornography, and the amount of time that people spend online (especially children) have led to an increase in the distribution of such content (e.g., images of children being sexually abused, real-time videos of such abuse, grooming activities, etc.). It is therefore essential to have effective IT tools that automate the detection and blocking of this type of material, as manual filtering of huge volumes of data is practically impossible. The goal of this study is to carry out a comprehensive review of different learning strategies for the detection of sensitive content available in the literature, from the most conventional techniques to the most cutting-edge deep learning algorithms, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of each, as well as the datasets used. The performance and scalability of the different strategies proposed in this work depend on the heterogeneity of the dataset, the feature extraction techniques (hashes, visual, audio, etc.) and the learning algorithms. Finally, new lines of research in sensitive-content detection are presented.

NON-SCHOOL E-BEHAVIOR OF UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS STUDENTS: PANDEMIC EFFECTS AND TRENDS

Positive undergraduate student e-behavior has long been a goal of business faculty. This study was therefore conducted to empirically examine if non-school electronic behaviors, excluding social media, were affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. E-behaviors included both social/communication and recreational activities. Specifically, data collected during the three years prior to the pandemic were compared to data collected during the pandemic years of 2020-2021. Findings demonstrate with respect to seven of the nine behaviors examined, participation percent and participation minutes increased during the five-year study time frame and, in particular, increased greatly after the start of the pandemic. Further analysis found correlations between the usage minutes of various activities and variables such as gender, academic class, and study year.

Compulsive Sexual Behavior and Changes in Solitary Sexual Behaviors During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The aim of with this brief report is to examine how the COVID-19 pandemic differentially impacted solitary sexual behaviors in those with and without clinically significant compulsive sexual behavior (CSB). A total of 944 individuals in the United States completed an online cross-sectional survey in October 2020. Participants were asked to retrospectively report their frequency of masturbation and pornography use during the pandemic and prior to the pandemic. Participants also completed assessments of CSB, depression symptoms, and experiences of financial stress caused by the pandemic. Individuals who screened positive for clinically significant CSB reported statistically significant increases in masturbation and pornography use during the pandemic. Those who screened negative for CSB reported no significant increase in masturbation and a very small, statistically significant increase in pornography use. Those screening positive for CSB also reported significantly higher levels of depression symptoms but did not report increased likelihood of experiencing financial distress due to the pandemic. This suggests that increases in masturbation and pornography use reported by some, but not all, recent studies on sexual behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic may be driven by individuals with CSB. Future research on sexual behaviors during the pandemic should assess CSB to further clarify its relationship with sexual behavior changes.

Problematic consumption of online pornography during the COVID-19 pandemic: Clinical recommendations

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is one of the greatest contemporary challenges. Feelings of fear and uncertainty triggered by this pandemic have had noxious effects on people's mental health. This seems to have increased during quarantine and there is evidence of an intensification of reward- directed behavior. Nevertheless, there are few studies dealing with pornography consumption during this period. The aim of this manuscript is to contextualize this phenomenon during the pandemic and suggest some clinical recommendations on the matter. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Arousing Real or Real Threat? How Realism in Avatars Affects the Perception of Virtual Reality Pornography and Relationships for Heterosexual Women

New immersive technologies and COVID lockdowns increase the attention for Virtual Reality Pornography (VRP). In this study, heterosexual women were interviewed about the effect of realism in VRP, using a new VRP Role-framework based on six dimensions. Results showed that VRP evokes strong negative and positive emotions. Different types of realism evoked confusion around fidelity and pornography and triggered different relationship boundaries, roles, and rules. Feelings of betrayal and fidelity seemed less when the partner experiences 360° recorded VRP (VR-type-dimension) alone (companion-dimension). Acceptance and confusion appear high around shared computer-generated experiences with control over avatars (interactive-dimension) that look like the self (resemblance-dimension). Feelings of doubt and betrayal seem high when the partner experiences VRP with strangers using realistic-looking avatars (realism-dimension) that resemble (well)known persons or the partner. This study helps companies explore ways to improve VRP content while considering ethical questions society raises concerning VRP's impact on relationships. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

Distress and satisfaction in women whose male partners use pornography: The roles of attitude, religiosity, and meanings

Approximately 40% of U.S. women in married or cohabitating heterosexual relationships have a partner who uses pornography more than once a month. Some studies demonstrate a negative association between the frequency of male partners' pornography use (PU) and women's sexual satisfaction and relationship satisfaction, while others find no association. These mixed findings may be due to moderating influences of women's religiosity, attitudes, and diverse meanings given to PU (e.g. addiction, gendered norm, inspiration), which have not been adequately studied.The current study included a sample of 625 women (mean age=44, diverse SES, 86% White), recruited through a Qualtrics research panel, who were married or cohabitating with a man who had used pornography in the prior 3 months. Study aims were to investigate (1) pornography-related distress, attitudes and meanings given to a partner's PU, (2) the relationship between perceived frequency of partners' solitary PU (PFREQ) and women's pornography-related distress, relationship satisfaction and sexual satisfaction, (3) contributions of attitude and religiosity (commitment and conservatism) to distress and satisfaction, and (4) associations among attitudes, religiosity and meanings, and among meanings, distress and satisfaction. Self-report measures included the Partner's Pornography Use Scale, Pornography Distress Scale, Couples Satisfaction Index, Global Measure of Sexual Satisfaction, Multidimensional Religious Ideology Scale, Religious Commitment Inventory, Biblical Literalism Measure, Pornography Meaning Scales, and an item measuring attitudes towards pornography. Participants endorsed a range of PFREQ (median frequency=1-2 times/week) and attitudes (28% negative, 34% neutral, 38% positive). Partial correlations and multiple regressions, controlling for demographic variables and COVID-19-related stress, indicated that higher PFREQ was significantly associated with women's higher pornography-related distress, lower relationship satisfaction, and lower sexual satisfaction. Attitude and PFREQ made independent contributions to distress and satisfaction. Negative attitude amplified the negative association between PFREQ and relationship satisfaction, and religious conservatism amplified the positive association between PFREQ and pornography-related distress. Findings support and extend previous research regarding the associations of higher PFREQ and negative attitude with greater distress and lower relationship and sexual satisfaction, the contribution of religiosity to greater distress, and the role of meanings of infidelity, sin, addiction and inadequacy in predicting greater distress and lower satisfaction. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Impact of COVID-19 on adolescent sexual life and attitudes: have we considered all the possible secondary effects of the pandemic?

A significant increase in pornography use has been reported in the adolescent population worldwide over the past few years, with intensification of the phenomenon during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of the present review is to provide data on the frequency of pornography consumption among adolescents during the pandemic and raise awareness about its potential impact on personal beliefs and sexual attitudes in the long term. A comprehensive literature review was performed in two scientific databases using the crossmatch of the terms "pornography", "adolescents" and "COVID-19". A significant increase in pornography consumption in adolescents was documented during the COVID-19 pandemic as a result of social detachment. Fulfilment of sexual desires in the context of social distancing, alleviation of COVID-19-related boredom and psychological strain, and coping with negative emotions are some of the reported reasons for increased pornography use during the pandemic. However, concerns have been raised in the literature regarding potentially negative effects of excessive pornography use from an early age, including the development of pornography addiction, sexual dissatisfaction and aggressive sexual attitudes reinforced by gender preoccupations and sexual inequality beliefs. CONCLUSION: The extent to which increased pornography consumption from an early age during the COVID-19 pandemic may have affected adolescents' mental well-being, personality construction and sexual behaviour is yet to be seen. Vigilance from the society as a whole is required so that potential negative adverse effects of adolescent pornography use and potential social implications are recognized early and managed. Further research is needed so that the full impact of the COVID-19-related pornography use in the adolescent population is revealed. WHAT IS KNOWN: •A significant increase in pornography consumption has been documented in the adolescent population worldwide over the past decades due to its quick, affordable and easy access from electronic devices and the possibility of anonymous and private participation. •During the COVID-19 pandemic, this phenomenon was intensified as a coping mechanism to social isolation and increased psychosocial strain. WHAT IS NEW: •Concerns have been raised regarding the risk of pornography addiction in adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic, making the post-pandemic adaptation challenging. •Awareness is raised in parents, health care providers and policy makers about the potential negative impacts of pornography consumption from an early, vulnerable age, such as sexual dissatisfaction and development of aggressive sexual attitudes and sex inequality beliefs.

Aggravation of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Due to Excessive Porn Consumption: A Case Report.

The past few decades have seen a significant rise in pornography consumption. This has brought into existence a new behavioral addiction, addiction to internet pornography, which impacts the psycho-somatic health of the individuals and people around them. The accessibility, affordability, and anonymity of online pornography have fed the growing popularity of online pornography. The International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) has included pornography in Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder with it being categorized as an impulse control disorder and not necessarily an addictive disorder. However, the recently published Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR) does not recognize a diagnosis of sexual addiction/compulsion (including internet pornography). Psychiatry remains an ever-evolving branch, and as the understanding evolves, the schools of thought change as well. The constantly evolving literature on behavioral addictions has helped the understanding that any source capable of stimulating the reward circuitry in an individual can become addictive. The stigma associated with behavioral addictions, particularly pornographic addiction, as well as a lack of awareness, contribute to under-reporting, making the reported cases just the tip of the iceberg. Addictions have been associated with various complications and other psychiatric phenomena. We describe a case of a 28-year-old male with mild features of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) that took major shape with the advent of pornographic addiction. The patient was a known case of exam anxiety, panic attacks, auditory hallucinations, and mild obsessive and compulsive symptoms. However, with the death of his girlfriend's father, a breakup with his girlfriend, and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), he indulged in porn consumption which soon shifted to religious pornographic content leading to guilt with a fair insight. This later culminated in the aggravation of his OCD with repetitive cleaning activities. The patient was started on pharmacological and behavioral therapy and has responded well in follow-ups. In light of the special presentation of this case, we strongly recommend better reporting of such complications aiding in broadening the understanding of the spectrum of possible psychiatric impacts of pornographic consumption.

Impact Of Covid-19 Pandemic On Social Relations And Mental Health

The aim of this study is to understand the effects of covid-19 on docile relationships and mental health. The pandemic was an unacceptable development in people's lives throughout the globe. The pandemic had a major impact on the social behavior of the people. This study explores the social relationship and mental health domain of individuals and how it changed after the pandemic. The impact of being isolated from the world. And social interactions will also be explored in this paper. The study shows that the world will never be the same after the pandemic and that the lockdown has changed people emotionally and mentally. Copyright © 2022, Anka Publishers. All rights reserved.

Web-Based Relationship Education and Pornography-Related Behaviors: A Single-Group Design During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Research surrounding pornography and its impact on individual and relationship functioning is a frequent and ongoing debate in the current literature. However, recent meta-analyses and aggregated studies suggest that relationship distress is associated with higher levels of general pornography use. This may be a reason why a significant number of men and women view pornography and seek help for their use. In the present study, we explored whether participation in the OurRelationship program, a web-based relationship education program that has been empirically shown to reduce relationship distress but is not tailored to reduce general pornography use, was associated with reliable changes in pornography-related behaviors. In a sample of low-income and diverse couples (N = 314 couples; 628 individuals), we observed high completion rates (64.3%) as well as reliable, small-sized decreases in the frequency and duration of pornography use for the average couple (d = 0.12-0.13). Furthermore, post hoc analyses found that individuals who began the program viewing pornography daily reported reliability-larger decreases in pornography-related behaviors (d = 0.32-0.90) than those who viewed pornography less frequently. However, we did not see reliable changes in couples' arguments about pornography use or perceptions of problematic use. The findings were generally not moderated by gender or lifestyle changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Clinicians struggling to reduce their client's general pornography use may consider including a focus on improving general romantic relationship functioning.

Mette's Pharmacy

With the global outbreak of COVID-19, contagion returns to stage in a way not seen since the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) pandemic. As the states have gradually shifted from social distancing to vaccine and herd immunity, it seems opportune to draw from Italian philosopher Roberto Esposito to understand the protective responses to contagions. Esposito's oeuvre probes into the relationship between sovereignty and biopolitics through the paradigm of immunity, which he maintains is a modern invention designed to protect public life. To extend Esposito's thinking to today, what seems novel is a hyper-accelerated virtualization of communication and subsuming the public into private. However, the technological medium that absorbs public and private life is all too familiar: We are consenting to incorporate the optimized structures of intimacy over distance, originally instigated by pornography. To explore in choreographic terms this virtualizing tendency of bodies as an immunitary response, I look at Danish choreographer Mette Ingvartsen's performances 69 Positions, 7 Pleasures, 21 Pornographies and to come (extended), collectively known as The Red Pieces Series (2014-2017). In hindsight, the series stands as a premonitory investigation into bodies and intimate encounters across real and virtual spaces. The performances are expressly about the relationship between the public sphere and sexuality. What makes these works a performative take on biopolitics is their examination of the definitions of public, how a public manages the multiplicity of desires and motions and with what it protects or how it breaches individual bodily boundaries. In the arc of the series, Ingvartsen hijacks the technology inherent in pornography, the excitation-frustration cycles of which became morbidly profitable after HIV as Paul B. Preciado exposed (2013). The Red Pieces Series eventually interrogates community through what Esposito would call an ‘affirmative biopolitics', the potentiality of bodies remaining open to contaminating relations of difference in shared spaces.

Prevalence and predictors of pornography exposure during the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic: A web-based cross-sectional study on students in Bangladesh.

Background: Pornography exposure, particularly among students, in Bangladesh, has increased in the twenty-first century. However, pornography exposure during the COVID-19 pandemic, when people were compelled to "stay at home" and relied extensively on the internet for all forms of activities, including academia, socializing, and communication, has remained unexplored. The present study aimed to assess the prevalence of pornography exposure among students during the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and to determine the associated predictors. Methods: A web-based cross-sectional study was carried out among students with certain specifications, i.e., current students at high school/college/university with access to the internet and valid social media accounts. By administering a semi-structured e-questionnaire using Google Forms, a total of 646 valid responses were retained for this study. The data were analyzed in two phases by Pearson's Chi-square and multiple logistic regression model, using IBM SPSS Statistics, version 25. The results were expressed as an adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Results: The findings suggest that 75.9% of students were exposed to pornography during the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and preferred to watch the amateur/professional genre of pornography. Pornography exposure was significantly associated with age and relationship status, as students aged 22-24 years (95% CI: 1.01-2.41; p = 0.045) and over 25 years (95% CI: 1.61-10.03; p = 0.003) were more likely to watch pornography, while married students and those in relationships (95% CI: 1.24-3.49; p = 0.006) also watched pornography during the pandemic. In contrast, students who were living alone (95% CI: 0.38-0.92; p = 0.021), were living in the Khulna division (95% CI: 0.16-0.52; p < 0.001) or had a negative attitude toward pornography (95% CI: 0.94-0.99; p = 0.002) were less likely to be exposed to pornography. Conclusion: Pornography exposure was higher among students in Bangladesh during the COVID-19 pandemic, and religiosity and disapproving attitudes toward pornography negatively influenced the pornography exposure. For a better understanding of the complex dynamics of socio-demographic issues with pornography exposure among students, extensive research is required for policymakers to devise appropriate strategies and interventions to ensure healthy and safe sex life for the younger population.

Pornography from the female point of view: an ethnographic investigation

Objectives: The purpose of the study is to know the reasons that lead women to seek pornographic material less than men. Furthermore, the second objective is to detect any differences in the choice of pornographic material by women during gestation. Method(s): The research was carried out through semi-structured interviews aimed at investigating the areas of body perception, sexuality, relationship with pornography and perception of control. The sample consists of six pregnant women (age 19 >= and <= 35 years, average = 27.33, SD = 5.46). The participants, at the time of the interview, had been experiencing relationships with their current partners for an average of 5.16 years (DS = 4.16 years). The interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed to allow content analysis and thematic analysis, carried out using the MAXQDA software in version 20.0.0. Result(s): In 54% of the statements, the participants negatively described their relationship with pornography, due to the experiences of shame, discomfort and guilt perceived while viewing pornography. Despite these controversial feelings, porn consumption increased during pregnancy for all participants. From the research it emerges that women, compared to men, are more likely to see negative sides of pornography, perceiving the images as excessively violent, disrespectful towards the figure of the female and above all artificial. Conclusion(s): By obtaining results in agreement with the available scientific literature, the study revealed the reasons that induce women to search for pornographic material to a lesser extent, linked to social stigma, the perception of porn as "dirty" and "repugnant", to a greater concern about the negative effects of massive pornography use (Boynton, 1999;Lewin, 1997). An important limitation of this research is caused by the extremely small sample of participants, this due to the emergency situation linked to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2, and the way it is conducted with semi-structured interviews. Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest. Copyright © 2022

La pornografía del confinamiento. Expresiones porno sobre el coronavirus

En el presente texto se analizan los videos que han erotizado algunas situaciones ligadas a la covid-19, como el uso de guantes, mascarillas, alcohol en gel o trajes de protección para representar el contexto específico de la pandemia y que aquí se denomina "pornografía del confinamiento". Los objetivos del artículo son explorar las características de este tipo de pornografía y analizar los vínculos entre tales videos y la exigencia hacia el sujeto biopolítico de que se responsabilice por su salud. Se revisaron alrededor de veintisiete videos de la página Pornhub, prestando especial atención a diez que fueron titulados The Cleanest Porn Ever. Todos estos materiales buscan promover el "sexo seguro" basado en el distanciamiento social, en la visualización de pornografía o en el aprendizaje de técnicas higiénicas para evitar el contagio. En el análisis se utilizaron diversas teorías, noticias y estadísticas sobre el tema. Entre los hallazgos encontrados sobresale que la pornografía del confinamiento es un reflejo de la subjetividad liberal, en la que los individuos no están interesados en fortalecer el lazo social o participar en modificaciones culturales, sino en atender sus necesidades inmediatas e individuales. Finalmente, se concluye que con este tipo de pornografía se simplifica la realidad al conectar a las personas con emociones "positivas", descartando la potencia de las modificaciones que implican vínculos con la comunidad.Alternate :This text analyzes videos that have erotized situations linked to COVID-19, in which the use of gloves, masks, alcohol gel, or protective gear have represented the context of the pandemic, and that are referred to here as "pornography of confinement." The aim of this article is to explore the characteristics of this type of pornography and analyze the links between such videos and demands upon the biopolitical subject, who is to be responsible for their own health. Approximately twenty-seven videos from the website Pornhub were reviewed, with special attention to ten that were entitled The Cleanest Porn Ever. All these materials aim to promote "safe sex" based on social distancing, viewing pornography, or learning hygienic techniques to avoid infection. Diverse theories, news stories, and data on this topic were used in the analysis. Among the key findings, pornography of confinement reflects the liberal subjectivity, as the individuals represented are not interested in strengthening social ties or participating in cultural change but rather in attending to their own immediate and individual needs. Finally, it is concluded that reality is simplified in this type of pornography by connecting people with "positive" emotions, discarding the potential for change that entails ties to the collective.

“The ultimate test of self-discipline”: Lockdown and the NoFap community

NoFap is a community of mostly heterosexual men abstaining from what they see as an addictive cycle of pornography, masturbation, and orgasm, induced by the exploitation of innate male urges by the pornography industry. In the general population, increased masturbation and consumption of pornography are associated with psychological factors including low affect, loneliness, and boredom, all of which may be exacerbated by the lockdown/social distancing measures adopted in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The present study explores how the NoFap community has responded to the pandemic through discourse analysis of an online message board. We identify four key themes: i) I let go in lockdown, ii) the opportunity of lockdown, iii) testing the parameters of NoFap, and iv) community cohesion. Each is defined and discussed. Combined they illustrate a digital community struggling to honor its meritocratic masculine ideals in the face of challenging circumstances. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Sexualities is the property of Sage Publications, Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

The pornography of confinement. Porn expressions about the coronavirus.

This text analyzes videos that have erotized situations linked to COVID-19, in which the use of gloves, masks, alcohol gel, or protective gear have represented the context of the pandemic, and that are referred to here as "pornography of confinement." The aim of this article is to explore the characteristics of this type of pornography and analyze the links between such videos and demands upon the biopolitical subject, who is to be responsible for their own health. Approximately twenty-seven videos from the website Pornhub were reviewed, with special attention to ten that were entitled The Cleanest Porn Ever. All these materials aim to promote "safe sex" based on social distancing, viewing pornography, or learning hygienic techniques to avoid infection. Diverse theories, news stories, and data on this topic were used in the analysis. Among the key findings, pornography of confinement reflects the liberal subjectivity, as the individuals represented are not interested in strengthening social ties or participating in cultural change but rather in attending to their own immediate and individual needs. Finally, it is concluded that reality is simplified in this type of pornography by connecting people with "positive" emotions, discarding the potential for change that entails ties to the collective. (English) [ FROM AUTHOR] En el presente texto se analizan los videos que han erotizado algunas situaciones ligadas a la covid-19, como el uso de guantes, mascarillas, alcohol en gel o trajes de protección para representar el contexto específico de la pandemia y que aquí se denomina "pornografía del confinamiento". Los objetivos del artículo son explorar las características de este tipo de pornografía y analizar los vínculos entre tales videos y la exigencia hacia el sujeto biopolítico de que se responsabilice por su salud. Se revisaron alrededor de veintisiete videos de la página Pornhub, prestando especial atención a diez que fueron titulados The Cleanest Porn Ever. Todos estos materiales buscan promover el "sexo seguro" basado en el distanciamiento social, en la visualización de pornografía o en el aprendizaje de técnicas higiénicas para evitar el contagio. En el análisis se utilizaron diversas teorías, noticias y estadísticas sobre el tema. Entre los hallazgos encontrados sobresale que la pornografía del confinamiento es un reflejo de la subjetividad liberal, en la que los individuos no están interesados en fortalecer el lazo social o participar en modificaciones culturales, sino en atender sus necesidades inmediatas e individuales. Finalmente, se concluye que con este tipo de pornografía se simplifica la realidad al conectar a las personas con emociones "positivas", descartando la potencia de las modificaciones que implican vínculos con la comunidad. (Spanish) [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Íconos. Revista de Ciencias Sociales is the property of FLACSO Ecuador (Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

Hidden pandemic: Handling behavioral addiction during COVID-19 chaos in Low Middle-Income Countries

Symposium summary: Over the last few decades, the medical concept of addiction disorders has undergone tremendous development. Addictive disorders are currently considered a multifactorial chronic disease and have become a significant cause of global health problems and other psychiatric disorders. Not only drug addiction but also the number of behavioral addiction patients continues to increase. The outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) spread across the entire world has curtailed most individuals' daily activities and movements. In response, the COVID-19 pandemic lets individuals engage more with technology use, providing escapism to several activities (e.g., shopping, eating, gambling, gaming, doing physical exercise, watching pornography). These activities allow them to find some acute emotional relief, albeit pathologically. These behaviors happened by accessibility, availability, and the absence of prevention and management programs for excess use. The COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown policies in several countries have created a new paradigm regarding the prevention of specific strategies for behavioral addiction, primarily due to the increase in internet use that leads to addiction. A standard is needed to manage behavioral addiction, both pharmacological and non-pharmacological, in a holistic and comprehensive manner. Besides, an instrument is needed to distinguish healthy gamers, problematic gamers, and gaming disorders in order to prevent overdiagnosis. Notably, the symposium will highlight the emerging issue of behavioral addiction such as gambling, gaming, and pornography in Low Middle-Income Countries during the pandemic, exploring global solutions to international problems in the field of addiction medicine. In this symposium, there will be one chair and four speakers.

Common predictors of problematic gaming, social media, and pornography use

Introduction: Problematic gaming, social media, and pornography use have all been conceptualized as potential behavioral addictions, sharing similar etiological and neurological mechanisms. Nevertheless, majority of the research to date has investigated these behaviors separately or explored their co-occurrence. The present study aimed to investigate how an identical set of predictors relates to each problematic behavior, exploring the similarities and differences between them. Methods: Data was collected during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic with an online survey among a convenience sample of Hungarians. Three linear regression models with the three different problematic behaviors as outcomes were conducted (problematic social media use/pornography use/gaming N = 332/396/217;gender = 62.2/66.0/69.9% males;mean age = 38.6/39.9/37.6 years;SD = 10.7/11.0/10.0). Results: Findings revealed that depression symptoms were significantly and positively related to all three problem behaviors. Problematic pornography use was associated with male gender, while problematic social media use was associated with female gender. Time spent on each activity was positively correlated with the problematic use of the same activity. Remarkably, playing time was also positively associated with problematic social media use and problematic pornography use. Moreover, loneliness was significantly and positively associated with problematic pornography use. Conclusion: The results indicate that problematic gamers, social media, and pornography users all may experience depression symptoms and that excessive use may result in adverse consequences in all these activities. The current findings extend the knowledge regarding the psychological features of problematic use of games, pornography, and social media, highlighting the need to focus on their common underlying etiological processes.

Problematic internet use during COVID-19 pandemic

Background: Experts in the field raised concerns about the rise of the Problematic Usage of the Internet (PUI) during the Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), however, specific online behaviours and how they are presented cross-culturally were explored to a lesser extent. In this study, we aimed to explore the cross-cultural manifestation of specific online behaviours and their associations with self-compassion, appearance anxiety, image and performance enhancing drugs (IPEDs) use, and specific online behaviours. Methods: An international survey was conducted in eight countries including Italy, Lithuania, Portugal, Spain, Japan, United Kingdom, Brazil and Hungary comprising in total 2223 individuals with a mean age of 33±11 years old. Participants were surveyed for specific type of Internet use severity (the Internet Activities Scale from the Internet Severity and Activities Addiction Questionnaire), selfcompassion (the Self-Compassion Scale, SCS), appearance anxiety (the Appearance Anxiety Inventory, AAI), and IPEDs use. Results: After adjustment for demographic factors, hours online, and country, self-compassion remained associated with higher levels of skill games and time wasters (β=-.073;p<.002), streaming (β=-.053;p=.018), digital hoarding (β=-.065;p=.006) and cyberchondria (β=-.153;p<.001). Appearance was associated with general surfing (β=.136;p<.001), online shopping (β=.137;p<.001), online gambling (β=.067;p=.003), social networking (β=.131;p<.001), pornography use (β=.102;p<.001), digital hoarding (β=.079;p<.001) and cyberchondria (β=.120;p<.001). IPEDs use also remained associated with various online behaviours during the COVID-19 pandemic Conclusions: Our exploratory study demonstrates that self-compassion, appearance anxiety, and IPEDS use contribute to various forms of PUI.