Former football player and actor Terry Crews recent video confessions on Facebook may be doing more good than he ever imagined.
Several videos posted to Crews Facebook page tell of his previous struggle with pornography addiction, his anti-porn stance now and his advice to those who could be struggling with porn. Crews said pornography "really messed up" his life.
"Some people deny," Crews said in one of his videos. They say, 'Hey, man, you can't really be addicted to pornography. But I'm going to tell you something. If day turns into night and you are still watching, you probably have got a problem. And that was me.
The first video alone has over 3 million views and thousands of comments from people thanking Crews for his message.
As a wife and a mother, I am so proud of you for sharing this, one Facebook user wrote. I'm going to have my teenagers watch this, because they admire you tons and they need your positive words to help them with the struggles of growing up in a world with such easy access to pornography.
This isnt the first time celebrities have used their popularity to reach out to fans about their struggles with pornography and spread awareness about its dangerous effects.
Russell Brand, an English comedian and actor, posted a video last year discussing his obsession with porn as a teenager and its dangers for teenagers today.
Pornography is not something I like, Brand said in his video. Its something that I havent been able to make a long-term commitment to not looking at, and it's affecting my ability to relate to women, to relate to myself, my own sexuality (and) my own spirituality.
Jill Manning, an anti-porn researcher and therapist specializing in treating porn-related disorders, helped pen an open letter to Brand praising him for making anti-porn research go viral. She said she heard parents and teens talking about the video afterward, according to USA Today.
(He has) unwittingly given parents a useful launching point and young adults an influential role model of someone who is honest about pornography's impact in their life, including his wrestling with it," Manning said.
The impact these celebrities have on raising awareness for illnesses or public health concerns is often measurable, and its called the celebrity effect, according to CNN.
Research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Internal Medicine showed Sheens disclosure of his HIV-positive status last year corresponded with the greatest number of HIV-related Google searches ever recorded in the United States.
While no one should be forced to reveal HIV status, Sheens disclosure may benefit public health by helping many people learn more about HIV infection and prevention, the study reads.
An article from CNN reported similar good done by Michael J. Fox for Parkinsons research, Lance Armstrong for testicular cancer awareness and Angelina Jolie for breast cancer awareness and increased doctor visits.
There may not be any concrete measure of Crews impact on pornography awareness yet, but the anti-porn celebrity effect is certain to gain traction as more celebrities come out with their statements.
Several videos posted to Crews Facebook page tell of his previous struggle with pornography addiction, his anti-porn stance now and his advice to those who could be struggling with porn. Crews said pornography "really messed up" his life.
"Some people deny," Crews said in one of his videos. They say, 'Hey, man, you can't really be addicted to pornography. But I'm going to tell you something. If day turns into night and you are still watching, you probably have got a problem. And that was me.
The first video alone has over 3 million views and thousands of comments from people thanking Crews for his message.
As a wife and a mother, I am so proud of you for sharing this, one Facebook user wrote. I'm going to have my teenagers watch this, because they admire you tons and they need your positive words to help them with the struggles of growing up in a world with such easy access to pornography.
This isnt the first time celebrities have used their popularity to reach out to fans about their struggles with pornography and spread awareness about its dangerous effects.
Russell Brand, an English comedian and actor, posted a video last year discussing his obsession with porn as a teenager and its dangers for teenagers today.
Pornography is not something I like, Brand said in his video. Its something that I havent been able to make a long-term commitment to not looking at, and it's affecting my ability to relate to women, to relate to myself, my own sexuality (and) my own spirituality.
Jill Manning, an anti-porn researcher and therapist specializing in treating porn-related disorders, helped pen an open letter to Brand praising him for making anti-porn research go viral. She said she heard parents and teens talking about the video afterward, according to USA Today.
(He has) unwittingly given parents a useful launching point and young adults an influential role model of someone who is honest about pornography's impact in their life, including his wrestling with it," Manning said.
The impact these celebrities have on raising awareness for illnesses or public health concerns is often measurable, and its called the celebrity effect, according to CNN.
Research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Internal Medicine showed Sheens disclosure of his HIV-positive status last year corresponded with the greatest number of HIV-related Google searches ever recorded in the United States.
While no one should be forced to reveal HIV status, Sheens disclosure may benefit public health by helping many people learn more about HIV infection and prevention, the study reads.
An article from CNN reported similar good done by Michael J. Fox for Parkinsons research, Lance Armstrong for testicular cancer awareness and Angelina Jolie for breast cancer awareness and increased doctor visits.
There may not be any concrete measure of Crews impact on pornography awareness yet, but the anti-porn celebrity effect is certain to gain traction as more celebrities come out with their statements.