When photography became widely available at the end of the 19th century, it soon was put to use to provide erotic images. More recently, the Internet has been both a boon and a menace in healthy sexuality. Although it provides access to very personalized information and can serve as a means of support and connection for those whose sexuality makes them feel isolated, others are unable to resist the lure of interactive Internet pornography, a fact Bancroft deems “quite scary.”

Because an extraordinary variety of sexual stimuli is accessible in relatively private settings, he maintains that Internet erotica is potentially far more dangerous than traditional print or video sources and can interfere with relationships and work performance with emptying bank accounts. The National Council on Sex Addiction and Compulsivity estimates that a staggering 2 million Americans are addicted to cybersex.