Many　researchers　have　considered　whether　online　sexual　activities　(OSAs)　increased　over　the　course　of　the　COVID-19　pandemic　and　whether　these　have　led　to　an　increase　in　problematic　pornography　use　(PPU).　This　study　investigated　the　impact　of　COVID-19　on　PPU　through　pornography　use　motivations　(PUMs)　and　OSAs　to　develop　a　better　understanding　of　the　mechanism　and　changes　affecting　PPU.　Two　groups　of　Chinese　adults　were　recruited　during　the　initial　months　of　the　pandemic　(April　2020,　n(1)　=　496)　and　the　post-pandemic　period　(October　2021,　n(2)　=　504).　A　network　analysis　was　conducted　to　compare　the　structures　of　PPU　symptoms　among　the　two　groups.　The　results　showed　that　PUMs　and　OSAs　were　stronger　predictors　of　PPU　during　the　pandemic　than　post-pandemic　(R-pandemic(2)　=　57.6%　vs.　R-post-pandemic(2)　=　28.7%).　The　motives　of　fantasy,　sexual　pleasure,　stress　reduction,　and　self-exploration　were　the　prominent　motivations　during　these　two　periods,　but　we　found　distinct　PPU-related　communities.　PPU,　sexual　pleasure,　and　viewing　sexually　explicit　materials　(a　type　of　OSAs)　constituted　a　community　during　the　pandemic　but　not　in　the　post-pandemic＇s　network.　The　present　study　indicated　that　the　pandemic　may　not　have　been　the　only　factor　impacting　the　higher　rate　of　PPU.　Instead,　the　higher　frequency　of　OSAs　during　the　pandemic　may　have　been　a　strategy　to　cope　with　stress　and　to　safely　satisfy　sexual　desire.