Can sex alone be as satisfying as in-person sex? What about virtual reality porn?
The COVID-19 public health response has restricted social interaction in ways that have never been done before. Many individuals may go for lengthy (and endless) periods of time without engaging in physical sexual contact. Given that human connection and touch are essential to mankind, this might have a substantial impact on how well persons who are single or without a sexual partner feel about themselves. In times of social isolation, the media has claimed that individuals are using internet technology to find sex and human interaction.
But what can we learn from study on how well technology can satiate our urges for sex, touch, and intimacy?
Individual sex
One remedy for insufficient sex is solo sex, which is perfectly acceptable by today's health standards. Technology is being used to improve this. According to reports, amid the COVID-19 issue, traffic to the pornographic website Pornhub has surged rapidly and sales of well-liked sex devices have increased noticeably. Meanwhile, by including themes of quarantine, erotic literature has gained new followers. But not everyone is physically capable of enjoying oneself, and sex also involves intimacy, human connection, and touch. Does this work in an online setting?
Relationship building
Online sex dating has been popular for many years. This tendency is being accelerated by COVID-19, leading to a surge in the usage of specialized applications for free sex chat, cyber-flirting, and sexting. While actual "hook ups" may be off limits for the time being, research suggests that cyber-flirting and sexting may improve sexual inventiveness and fantasies, contribute to real-life sexual and relationship pleasure, and, for some, boost body confidence and a feeling of attractiveness.
People are increasingly using their cameras in more inventive ways as a result of COVID-19. The staging of internet parties by sex party organizers has allowed some people to experience online sex for the first time. People have discovered that this experience is quite pleasurable, recreating sensations of eagerness and anticipation that are identical to those experienced during actual intercourse. Similar study has indicated that cybersex, which may entail having sex with avatars rather than cameras, may improve people's sexual lives by allowing them to explore ideas and desires they would not feel comfortable pursuing in real life.
A recent research by the Kinsey Institute found that those who utilize technology for sexting or webcamming obtained a feeling of emotional connection as well as sexual fulfillment from this communication, along with the possibility for increased sexual satisfaction. This includes those who used professional webcam sex services as well as those who engaged in sexting or "camming" with an internet partner or acquaintance.
How about contact?
It is more difficult to simulate human touch. Teledildonic devices are internet-connected sex toys that let users use a smartphone app to control their partner's vibrator. Although there hasn't been much study on how much these devices improve people's feeling of connection or sexual pleasure, COVID-19 seems to have increased demand for them.
Technologies are also moving toward immersive experiences, which combine tactile feeling with visual cues to simulate touch in a more lifelike manner. Devices like the "Vstroker" and the "Auto-Blow2," for instance, connect to virtual reality (VR) porn. The VR film's motions, such as oral or penetrative sex, are synchronized to the device's operations so that the images correspond to the actual experience. According to research, VR pornography may increase arousal and presence sensations.
There may be dangers
There are hazards associated with online sex, many of which are widely known. Sharing pornographic photographs or films runs the danger of exposing oneself to unwelcome attention via uninvited distribution, such as "revenge pornography." Additionally, in recent weeks, reports of widespread "Zoom-bombing," or hacking into online meetings using the Zoom video-conferencing program, have surfaced. Using video chat systems for sex obviously carries some risk.
This adds fuel to already-existing worries about data hijacking, consent, and improper teledildonic user monitoring by the corporations who create them. Recently, two of these businesses were sued for gathering private information about customers, such as body temperature and frequency of gadget vibrations. Concerns about rising catfishing, the practice of enticing individuals into phony online connections for financial frauds, are raised while social estrangement persists.
Is intimacy shared online the same as physical closeness?
Studies on sex and intimacy have brought up the topic of whether an online environment can foster a feeling of human connection comparable to physical presence. Physical proximity makes it possible to engage in personal behaviors like touching and routine care. According to several studies, communicating online enables individuals to exhibit false versions of themselves or generates connection that is less genuine. Due to complicated or insufficient visual clues, trust may be difficult to establish online.
According to some research, however, individuals are more likely to reveal intimate and sensitive information through text than in person, suggesting that the online environment may actually promote connection.
The future of sex?
The usage of and attitudes regarding technology mediated sex and intimacy may change as a result of COVID-19. When social isolation restrictions are removed, it is too soon to predict how this will turn out, but for the time being, digital technology is more important than ever for deep human connection and sex.
