{"id":261521,"date":"2020-07-14T06:05:54","date_gmt":"2020-07-14T10:05:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/?p=261521"},"modified":"2020-07-14T06:05:54","modified_gmt":"2020-07-14T10:05:54","slug":"cybersex-erotic-tech-and-virtual-intimacy-are-on-the-rise-during-covid-19","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/2020\/07\/14\/cybersex-erotic-tech-and-virtual-intimacy-are-on-the-rise-during-covid-19\/","title":{"rendered":"Cybersex, erotic tech and virtual intimacy are on the rise during COVID-19"},"content":{"rendered":"

The coronavirus pandemic is affecting sexuality and relationships<\/a>. The confinement and social distancing measures protecting us are unintentionally exacerbating intimacy-related difficulties and limiting people\u2019s access to partners<\/a>.<\/p>\n

For some, COVID-19 is synonymous with loneliness and relationship stress. Many people end up choosing between intimacy and security. Singles looking for partners resign to celibacy<\/a>, while couples experience tensions related to forced isolation.<\/p>\n

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\n
\nRead more:
\nLove in the time of coronavirus: 5 tips for communicating with your partner while stuck at home<\/a>
\n<\/strong>
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

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But creativity loves adversity.<\/p>\n

In the face of a global pandemic, we are finding new, innovative and safe ways to (re)connect intimately and sexually through technology<\/a>.<\/p>\n

As researchers studying erobotics, a field intersecting sexuality and technology, we are interested in how human-machine erotic interactions can contribute to well-being \u2014 even in times of worldwide health crisis.<\/p>\n

\n


\n
\nRead more:
\nBeyond sex robots: Erobotics explores erotic human-machine interactions<\/a>
\n<\/strong>
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

Sex in the time of coronavirus<\/h2>\n

The COVID-19 lockdown and social distancing measures are impacting human life. Paradoxically, these protective measures also generate unintended stressors. For example, illness-related anxiety, heightened grief of losing a loved one, loneliness, domestic violence and financial stress<\/a>.<\/p>\n

When it comes to sex and relationships, the pandemic is creating a situation where people are either living in close proximity (possibly with partners, children or other family members) or are limited in their opportunities to find partners for prolonged periods of time. These circumstances can directly impact our intimacy<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
A majority of adults have reported a decline in the quality of their sex lives during the coronavirus pandemic.<\/span>
\n(Charles Deluvio\/Unsplash)<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A recent online survey found that a majority of participants in a sample of 1,559 adults reported a decline in the quality of their sex lives (43.5 per cent) during the COVID-19 pandemic, while only a minority reported improvements (13.6 per cent)<\/a>. Interestingly, however, despite people reporting a decrease in the frequency of sexual behaviours compared to the past year, one in five individuals (20.3 per cent) added at least one new activity to their sex life, such as a new sexual position, incorporating pornography or engaging in cybersex. Compared to people who made no change, those who spiced things up were more likely to report improvements in their sex life since the beginning of the pandemic.<\/p>\n

Additionally, preliminary evidence from another study suggests that believing that a partner is caring and understanding, can partly shield against some of the impact of COVID-19 stressors on the relationship<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Sex tips for the pandemic<\/h2>\n

Suggestions for safer sex during COVID-19 have been proposed<\/a>. These include: hand-washing; limiting sexual activities to partners who are part of the household; using physical barriers such as masks, condoms and dental dams; creatively enacting positions that reduce risks of transmission and masturbating.<\/p>\n

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\n
\nRead more:
\nCoronavirus and sex: Dos and don’ts during social distancing<\/a>
\n<\/strong>
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

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As the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene says: \u201cYou are your safest sex partner<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

This same department also suggests taking a break from in-person dates and instead trying virtual dating, sexting and kinky \u201cZoom parties.\u201d<\/p>\n

Necessity is the mother of invention, and this is particularly true of technology. Including a suggestion like the video-conferencing platform Zoom is telling. The integration of social and interactive technologies in work and relationships accelerates exponentially with confinement.<\/p>\n

COVID-19 and sex technologies<\/h2>\n

Sex tech is more than sex toys or objects used for sexual stimulation<\/a>. It is a billion-dollar industry that builds a wide range of products for interactive, immersive and connected erotic experiences<\/a>. This includes but is not limited to: virtual, augmented and mixed reality, \u201cteledildonics,\u201d dating applications and platforms, online erotic games and artificial erotic agents (or erobots)<\/a> such as sex robots, virtual partners or erotic chatbots.<\/p>\n

Sex tech is perhaps one of the only industries resilient to pandemics. The sale of sex toys skyrocketed<\/a>,
\ncompanies have reported an increase in sex and love doll purchases<\/a>
\nand sex-tech startups are thriving<\/a>. While numbers from the private sector should be interpreted with caution, COVID-19 is affecting how we explore intimacy with ourselves and others<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Sex tech is a safer way to fulfil our sexual and emotional needs<\/a> in times of lockdown and social distancing. It offers innovative and inclusive ways to erotically engage with humans and machines that can address our desires for sexual pleasure and also cater to our needs for affection and companionship. Sex tech could help alleviate the suffering borne out of solitude or forced celibacy and let us keep touch with our loved ones while we wait for the storm to pass.<\/p>\n

In sum, the pandemic could be a chance for us to become a bit more \u201cdigisexual,\u201d or sexually oriented towards technology.<\/p>\n

\n


\n
\nRead more:
\nFor the love of technology! Sex robots and virtual reality<\/a>
\n<\/strong>
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

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Beyond the pandemic<\/h2>\n

Historically, societies are deeply transformed by great pandemics<\/a>. COVID-19 is no exception, with a renewed interest for remote work \u2014 and the adoption of new erotic behaviours. As such, we can realistically expect that norms and practices regarding love and sex may open up as we are currently exposed to a diverse range of more positive and safe intimate technological possibilities.<\/p>\n

Several studies<\/a> assessing the impact<\/a> of the COVID-19 crisis<\/a> on human<\/a> intimacy<\/a> are currently seeking responses<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Whether this will lead to enduring change remains unknown. We should take full advantage of the connectivity established by technology to extend the boundaries of love and sex, now and for the future.\"The<\/p>\n

Simon Dub\u00e9<\/a>, PhD candidate, Psychology, Concordia University<\/a><\/em>; Dave Anctil<\/a>, Chercheur affili\u00e9 \u00e0 l’Observatoire international sur les impacts soci\u00e9taux de l\u2019intelligence artificielle et du num\u00e9rique (OBVIA), Universit\u00e9 Laval<\/a><\/em>, and Maria Santaguida<\/a>, PhD Candidate in Psychology, Concordia University<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

This article is republished from The Conversation<\/a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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