What is it about pornography that makes it so incredibly addicting to so many people?

The reason for the size of the pornographic arena is the sheer number of people without an appropriate sexual partner, and the ease with which such offerings can be provided and found by suitable clients for such services, and this, of course, is a product of modern technology, first and foremost. So the first thing that we would say about this is that sex itself is addicting, so any form of sexual expression will become habit-forming and may be seen eventually as an imperative, where people will take tremendous risks to their reputation and well-being to satisfy their desires, to experience a satisfying form of sexual release again and again. So when people are without partners, and there is a large body of stimulating material that can arouse sexual feelings through fantasy, this will be heavily utilized and will become habit-forming, and even addicting in reaching the level of a compulsion that must be satisfied such that people cannot stop themselves even when a job or a marriage is at stake—that is a true addiction by any standard. This is a function of personal vulnerability in the likelihood of such an eventuality and, of course, the various life circumstances giving rise to the need for such an outlet to begin with. So we would say the primary factor here is the ready availability, even for the very young who may have an encounter with pornography as the first opportunity to explore their sexuality, at least in a simulated fashion other than using their imagination alone, which is relatively unsatisfying when there is an absence of actual life experience. Again, we do not regard this indulgence as a reason to judge or condemn anyone. What matters is whether someone is in a committed relationship, and uses such material on the side against the wishes of their partner, and thus it represents a kind of dishonesty and self‑indulgence to honor their own needs and urges above vows they may have made and promises to their partner. Those complications are not judged by us either, but there will be a recognition by the Law of Karma of a kind of transgression if promises have been made, and pledges that are violated, so that is something that will influence a person, on a personal level, and is a kind of self-regulating system by giving feedback for learning purposes and incentives to change behavior.