Adult Sites are Seeing an Increase in Traffic Due to the Coronavirus

As the world prepares for self-isolation with no deadline in sight, people are suddenly figuring out ways to occupy their time. Many are turning to hobbies as people are apt to do during stressful times. One area that’s currently seeing a boom in adult traffic. It shouldn’t come as a surprise since people are stuck at home, but the numbers and the shift prove that adult sites and the industry as a whole are in a unique situation and approaching even more interesting times.

PornHub reports that usage is up around 5% for the US

Unsurprisingly, PornHub reported on the week of March 11 that traffic from the United States had already risen about 5%. This was at the time when many workers were either starting to transition to a work-from-home situation or were being laid off altogether. The takeaway is that Americans were in the beginning stages of permanent isolation.

Over a week has passed since this report. Since then, more Americans than ever are self-quarantining and working from home, and the numbers are going to skyrocket as these trends continue. By the end of that week, most Americans will have isolated themselves and their families. PornHub and adult sites should expect to see massive gains in traffic as the weeks come and go.

Italy’s usage doubled for the same period

During the week of March 11, Italy saw the worst of Coronavirus. Citizens were required to stay indoors, resulting in the viral videos of Italians singing from their windows; the concrete slabs of buildings were their stage, their neighbors and the world, their audience. Not every Italian was belting out a tune, though. PornHub reports that while Americans and other countries saw a sizeable increase, Italy saw a whopping increase of 14%!

The only country that rivaled Italy during this time was Thailand, which saw an increase of one percent higher. Belgium, The Netherlands, add Czechia saw increases of 12%, 11%, and 9%, respectively. These numbers will continue to stay inflated as self-isolation continues.

And it isn’t just massive free tube sites like PornHub or xHamster that are seeing an increase in Web traffic. Porn sites of all kinds are seeing spikes in their numbers as more people become self-isolated globally and transition to a life of staying within their quarters. While there is no indication that these numbers will continue to rise. In all likelihood, they will stabilize as self-isolation becomes the new normal.  

Coronavirus searches on adult sites have surged

It isn’t just adult websites that are seeing a spike in Web traffic. Coronavirus-themed searches are also doing gangbusters. Although it should not be a surprise since the Internet proves that people will sexualize anything, it’s still bizarre to see pornography and a global pandemic not only tied together on porn sites but for people to actually be searching for it. One could assume that people would be wanting to get their minds off of the catastrophe that’s shaking the very foundation of our planet – it turns out, that’s not the case.

Then again, during times of crisis, people turn to art to make sense of what’s going on; in this case, it’s probably to feel better about the fact that people are dying.  The amount of Coronavirus-themed porn is across all porn mediums: galleries of women posing in hazmat suits, videos with a Coronavirus-centric angle (e.g., a video titled ‘A Cure for the Coronavirus is getting fu**ed by a PAWG’), and so on. It’s working, too. As self-isolation continues, expect to see even more themed content pop up until this pandemic is over.

Again, people try to make sense of a crisis anyway they can: through literature, music, art, etc. This includes visiting multitudes of porn sites. The fact that people are using Coronavirus-themed porn to somehow grasp and understand the magnitude of what’s happening should not come as a surprise to anyone. Besides, masturbation relieves stress and alleviates cabin fever. Thus, while the idea of Coronavirus-themed porn may make one chuckle, it has its purpose and place in these bizarre and uncertain times.

The Coronavirus is showing us the future of sex work, possibly porn

While it would not be realistic to say that the future of porn involves solo cam shows and porn videos, it does show that this model is not only sustainable but that there is an apparent demand for it. As people are forced to stay home and broaden their horizons, more than ever are going to want to see what other types of porn there are out there.

For many, this could be as simple as looking at other genres and categories of pornography. As mentioned earlier, because so many amateurs are creating Coronavirus-themed content – the majority of which are solo performances – more people than ever will be exposed to these professional-amateurish types of user-uploaded videos. Amateurs will be taking the reigns and producing much of the world’s freshest pornography, creating a do-it-yourself culture that will drive the porn industry well into the decade.

Alternatively (or in most cases, in addition to), platforms like OnlyFans, Patreon, Snapchat Premium, and others are seeing more people than ever flock to their platforms: buyers and sellers. People are bored, so it seems logical that those wanting unique sexual experiences during this downtime are more inclined to do so than they’ve ever been before. But because financial hardships are causing millions around the world to take a second look at other financial options they may have, a lot of people are beginning to sell videos and pictures, perform cam shows online, and provide a multitude of unique, personalized, and custom sexual experiences that people are more than willing to pay for. Not only will this help many to get out of financial hardships as the global economy experiences a shift, unlike anything we’ve seen in our lifetimes, but many will actually flourish.

Perhaps that is a silver lining among all of the chaos currently affecting the world. Amidst global isolation, financial heartache, and uncertainty about the future, people are still finding ways to survive and thrive through pornography. It’s a testament to the human condition, and solace that we’re going to be fine, whenever that may be.