Porn in the pandemic: Pornhub and sex apps benefit from the corona crisis

The corona virus continues to spread. The serious consequences for the health system, the cultural scene and the economy are already foreseeable. But there are at least a few winners in this crisis: the porn, online dating and sexting industries. Obviously, many people use their newfound leisure time within their own four walls to at least have some fun online, well. According to its own statistics, Pornhub is currently happy about higher user numbers. On some days, the access rate from Europe is six percent higher than before the pandemic broke out. The US company uses this for skilful in-house PR and has already offered free premium access to people in Italy.

Somewhat disturbing: According to current statistics, since January 25, 2020 the company has had more searches using the keywords "Corona", "Covid" and "Coronavirus". On March 5, 2020, the website received more than 1.5 million such requests in one day. Pornhub responds to the acute interest. In the meantime, according to "Computerbild", pornography with people wearing respiratory masks should be increasingly available. In Germany, however, these terms are apparently not very popular. According to the statistics, Pornhub receives searches related to the coronavirus mainly from Slovakia, Bulgaria and Ireland.

Sexting app registrations "explode"

But the Germans are also looking for ways to "inspire their imaginations", as the so-called sexting app Rinsing puts it in a press release. According to the company, registrations for this app would currently "explode". The duration of user activity has also increased by 60 percent. According to the operator, it has even been shown that the proportion of users in regions with a particularly large number of Covid 19 cases is particularly high.

If you are already fired up, we do not want to hide the fact that the app seems to convey a somewhat special image of women for complete information. The description states: "The app was founded to bring sophisticated men online with attractive women (…) The women are paid for their chat activities with coins." Ah yes …

But harmless dating apps like Tinder also react to the corona crisis. In addition to advertising for online suppliers, Tinder now also displays a hygiene note from time to time. Among other things, users are asked not to face each other and to avoid crowds. However, as the "Guardian" reports, the virus does not prevent most users from going on dates. 93 percent said they would continue to do so. So many people still take no account of possibly subconsciously spreading the virus and infecting high-risk patients.

If you are exemplary and stay at home, you obviously want to get further training in bed sports. The startup Beducated informed the portal "Gründerszene" that there was currently such high demand as usually only on public holidays and Christmas. Beducated offers so-called online sex courses and has set itself the goal of improving people's sex lives. "People are at home now and google 'personal issues'," explains the startup, explaining the increased interest. Otherwise, users in the office would not search for terms such as "penis massage" or "bondage games". Perhaps Germany can look forward to a higher birth rate after a hopefully well-survived pandemic.

Swell: Pornhub, "Guardian", "Computer Image", "Startup Scene"

This article was originally published on stern.de.