For myself it is very clear that it was an addiction. Specifically porn and masturbation. It is sometimes referred to as a "love" or "sex addiction" because the heart of the problem lies in intimacy problems. And the ritualization can involve more than just porn and masturbation. For me personally, I was heavily involved in anonymous cam chatting, paying for cam chatting, strip clubs, and even paying for prostitutes.
I have struggled with addiction my entire life and this has been the one that was the hardest to cure. Most of my life I didn't even realize that I was using porn and masturbation to hide from my problems. I used it to avoid a lot of psychological trauma from my childhood. Trauma that I had forcible repressed.
Everyone is different though. Some people can just have a couple cigarettes and not become addicted. Some people can have a couple beers and not become an alcoholic. That doesn't change the fact that these substances are literal poisons. Nicotine and tobacco are poison to humans. It kills us and there is clear science to back it up. Alcohol does the same thing. That's why people don't drink pure alcohol. It tastes gross and it would probably kill you.
I'm starting to think that porn is the same thing. Obviously it's not literal poison, but for me in my recovery it is helpful to think of it that way. And I've come to believe that it is a morally bankrupt industry and morally reprehensible part of our society. I'm not saying that all porn is evil or that all people who play a part in making porn is evil. A guy and girl who get a camcorder and record themselves having sex and upload it an amateur porn site. Their not doing anything morally wrong and I don't think there is anything wrong with the video.
The sad truth is that most of the porn industry revolves around the abuse and disrespect of women (and men). And there are many times when the consent is not explicitly stated. It's sick that I know this, but there are TONS of videos where they trick a girl into agreeing to softcore porn or a mild themed porn and then they get her in a back room and absolutely humiliate and abuse her. And I guess because she needs the money and she feels pressured, she doesn't say no or stop. I would honestly question the legality of the majority of videos in the industry. But even if it is legal, that doesn't make it morally good. I'm not one of those people who wants to ban porn. I don't think any good would come from that. But it is certainly an industry where there needs to be a hell of a lot more regulation going on. The sad thing is that the market demands the production of these types of videos.
I so happy I made the decision to end that sad chapter of my life.
If you are looking for a place to start I would read this book: http://www.sexualcontrol.com/The-Most-Personal-Addiction/
It's a free pdf you can download. It doesn't have all the answers and some of the suggestions I don't agree with. I don't agree with his negative view of licensed therapy. I don't like his confrontational attitude regarding 12 Steps (even though I don't agree with a lot of 12 Steps philosophy). I don't agree that your childhood is not worth examining to try to get to the bottom of the problem. In fact, if I had not examined my childhood, I probably would have never discovered the root of the toxic and all-consuming shame that was controlling my life.
I would also try reading an Allen Carr book on alcohol addiction.
That was a great book that honestly changed my life the minute I finished it. There are also a lot of strategies that Carr suggests for dealing with alcohol that are very useful when getting rid of porn in your life.
Best of luck on your journey. We are here if you have questions or need support.