- Internet users compensate for the lack of intimate contact due to confinement by sending " nudes ", sexting and other sexual symbols on social networks.
- Tweets containing both the terms " nudes " and " dick pics " appended to the word "coronavirus" increased 384% in just thirty days, according to a study by Khoros.
- "Confinement causes increased stress and therefore a form of excitement," says Helen Fisher, researcher at the Kinsey Institute, and scientific advisor for the Match.com dating site.
It has been more than a month since the daily life of several million French people has been completely turned upside down by the coronavirus pandemic. In this unprecedented period of confinement and social distancing, intimate relationships are under severe strain, especially for single people and for those who do not live under the same roof as their partners. But this forced quarantine does not necessarily mean sexual desert for everyone ...
According to a study by the company Khoros, specializing in social media, Internet users compensate for the lack of intimate contact via the Internet and social networks. This survey carried out between the beginning of March and the beginning of April shows that the exchanges of nudes [sending of naked photos] from one consenting person to another have exploded in recent weeks on the Internet. Nudes , dick pics , sextos and other sexual symbols are used more and more by Internet users today.
The use of “peach” and “eggplant” emojis has exploded on social networks
Tweets containing both the terms “ nudes ” and “dick pics” appended to the word “coronavirus” thus increased by 384% in just thirty days (from the beginning of March to the beginning of April), according to the study carried out by the Khoros company. The use of peach and eggplant emojis [common symbolic representations of the female and male genital organs] has also exploded on social networks. The use of the fishing emoji thus jumped by 46% in April compared to the previous month.
It's back. #peachemoji pic.twitter.com/vf5tMoWICg
- WKD (@WKDOfficial) November 16, 2016According to Helen Fisher, researcher at the Kinsey Institute, and scientific advisor for the dating site Match.com, this rise in the expression of sexuality on the Internet is explained by several factors. “Confinement creates an increase in stress and therefore a form of excitement. It increases testosterone in men and women, and then it triggers the production of norepinephrine and epinephrine, natural stimulants that produce energy, focus, motivation and sexual arousal, "explains the researcher.
An impression of "security" can also explain this "liberalization" of sexuality on social networks. “No one can meet physically anymore, so there is no longer the weight of online post-flirting, of real dating. Men and women now have time to express their sexuality, "adds Helen Fisher, who also points to the fact that women have tended to express more of their real wishes since the start of confinement, which they did not do. not as much as men on social media so far.
"Sexual pleasure" to face the difficulty of confinement
With confinement, everything related to online sexuality in general is booming. Sites offering pornographic content have never looked so good. Traffic on porn sites today represents a quarter of global traffic on the Internet. The Pornhub site recorded a 12% increase in global traffic compared to last month, according to the British daily The Guardian . Same observation at the production company Dorcel. Grégory Dorcel, director general of productions, noted "an explosion of 35 to 50% of viewing of content and purchases of sexy accessories intended for sharing".
Another booming online sex industry is livecam. Since the start of confinement, the "camgirls" have been in high demand. At Desir-Cam, a French site created in 2011, we say we have never seen such a request. “It's a historic peak. Client traffic has increased. We are seeing more registrations, the arrival of new customers and purchases of show minutes ”, explained a few days ago to 20 Minutes the co-founder and manager of the site. “Right now, people are bothering, looking for occupation, interaction, excitement. And they come to see us, ”said ClaraHot, 45, one of the pioneers of cam in France.
But not everything is rosy on online platforms, far from it ... Since the beginning of confinement in France, a form of porn revenge and slut shaming has swept over Snapchat and Telegram encrypted messaging. “Ficha” accounts [typing the poster in verlan] broadcasting intimate photos and videos of young girls without their consent have multiplied everywhere in France. "We have noted a strong upsurge in these acts since the start of confinement. Nearly 50 reports have already been made by my teams to Snapchat ”, said Marlène Schiappa to 20 Minutes a few days ago . Since the adoption of the law "for a digital republic" in 2016, "the dissemination of revenge porn is punishable by two years' imprisonment and a fine of 60,000 euros", specifies the secretary of state responsible for equality between women and men, who today calls for vigilance.
Culture
Coronavirus: Sextos, sexcam… Singles anticipate the period of confinement
By the Web
Revenge porn: "It traumatized me" ... With confinement, "ficha" accounts explode on Snapchat
- By the Web