The term 'nofap' has come to encompass a set of unproven claims that not masturbating confers social and health benefits. One of the central concepts in these communities is known as 'nofap,' a play on an onomatopoeic word for masturbation popularized on the notorious 4chan message boards. There are many variations on how and why members of these communities choose to abstain from masturbation. But many researchers and sex therapists worry that the online communities that have formed in response to these fears often endorse inaccurate medical information, exacerbate mental health problems and, in some cases, overlap with extremist and hate groups. More than two decades of growing internet use has surfaced fears about the social and psychological impacts of nearly unfettered access to pornography.
