While most people don’t care about the meaning of colours, red is so strongly tied to the sex industry that it’s nearly impossible to avoid! From the general sex appeal of red lipstick to the high-class seduction of red-bottom heels, the colour red is tangled up in our presentation. Whole streets or suburbs are called “red light districts” if they are known to be popular locations for brothels or sex workers. But why is the colour red so powerful?

Blushing Babes

Whether you’re at the gym or burning calories in a much more fun way, our bodies react by blushing pink. The association between physical activity and a warm glow is hardwired into our brains. 

Blood rushes to the skin upon contact too, which can be quite suggestive… Like the handprints made when spanking or being spanked.

Attention

The colour red is eye-catching, like berries hidden amongst the green jungle. Being able to spot particular colours might have been helpful in finding food or identifying possible danger. Today it’s used in stop signs and traffic lights; it certainly makes a statement!

Subtle and Not-So-Subtle Advertising

Across the world, sex work has been the subject of centuries of debate. At times, engaging in sex work was taboo or downright illegal which forced the industry into hiding. So, the use of literal red lights allowed for discreet advertising for where people could find sex workers. While those lights first appeared in Europe, the practice is now used across the world. 

Since then, mainstream media has expanded the meaning to include all sorts of intimacy. For example, Valentine’s Day is usually celebrated with red roses and hearts. High-class brands have incorporated the colour into their signature looks to appeal to sexual desires like the bottoms of designer heels.

While actual red lights aren’t so common anymore, the term red-light district remains an iconic part of sex history. Today the colour is broadly linked to all sorts of things, from designer heels to lipstick stains. There aren’t any rules about what colours mean but it’s interesting to see just how much of our society is impacted by colour!

While most of us agree that what happens in incognito tabs should never be spoken of again, there are some interesting statistics about the adult content we choose to watch when the lights go down. From trending search terms to patterns in when people were choosing to spend some alone time, it’s fascinating to see people’s behaviours displayed in terms of online activity.

Mouth-watering MILFs

According to Pornhubs 2023 Year In Review, we are craving a little bit of Stacey’s Mom, with MILF and Mature categories jumping into popularity. Globally, “MILF” held second place, ahead of “lesbian” but behind “hentai.” Other honourable mentions for having aged like fine wine include DILF, GILF and Daddy.

Big & Beautiful

Bigger may not be better but it was certainly more popular last year! Not only were terms like “big” and “huge” searched for more frequently, but the categories “Big Ass” and “Big Dick” saw an average watch time of more than 14 mins each, which is four minutes longer than the average amount of time spent on the site!

iHot

The single greatest increase was “android” and usually coupled with “cosplay,” “robot” and “roleplay.” It saw a 1689% increase in search frequency which was just above the 1541% increase for “NPC.”

International Intimacy

On a global level, America is the leading consumer of adult content online with Australia coming in 13th. The average time spent on the site grew to 10 minutes and 9 seconds. Australia, however, comes in below that average at 9 minutes and 31 seconds. Surprisingly, the day of the week that saw the most action was Monday, and the least was Saturday. Not only were women spending an average of 9 seconds longer online, but 1% more of the total viewers this year were women, making up 36% of all visitors. Australian men still hold the majority share; of total Aussie viewers, 31% were female and 69% male (nice).

Lots of things contribute to trends in adult content consumption and it’s interesting to think about how they vary between countries. Bedroom preferences are something uniquely personal but it’s also a universal part of sexuality. Even though we keep our online activity private, we have a lot more in common than we realise!

While long-term, exclusive relationships can meet our emotional needs, they come with their own costs. Sometimes it’s more practical to skip the romance and agree upon a strictly physical arrangement. Friends With Benefits, F-buddies and No-Strings-Attached, whatever the title, here’s how to keep it from falling apart.

Kicking off a new situation-ship can be a lot of fun, but sooner or later you will have to have an honest discussion about what you are both seeking from it. I opt for having that discussion SOONER. Lay out the ground rules; every dynamic will be different but they usually have a few things in common.

We Are Not Exclusive

There is nothing stopping you from seeing others and the same goes for me. In most cases, I don’t care or want to know about them and I probably won’t want to talk about my other hook ups. If you get serious about someone else, just let me know the deal is off. No hard feelings when the arrangement changes or ends!

When & Where

Depending on the circumstances, we might make some rules about when and where we get dirty. For example, we can hang out with a mutual friend together but we won’t be catching up with each other unless it’s to get freaky. Nothing even resembling a date. You can have those boundaries too! Maybe your place is off-limits because it means meeting your cat, and hey, that’s just way too personal for a no-strings-attached.

This Is Not A Movie

It’s a classic gag; two people become friends with benefits and before long, one of them catches feelings. These rules exist to stop that from happening so if you start getting butterflies, take a step back before you find yourself head over heels. This arrangement falls apart if you forget the basic premises; no strings attached!

Don’t Be Weird About It

For whatever reason, this will end and chances are we’ll still be in the same social circles. Don’t overthink things or make them messy. If you have things you want to talk about, we can talk! We are still friends, with or without the benefits. 

Good sex can be hard to come by, and you don’t have to date exclusively to make the most of a good roll in the sheets! Be honest with yourself and your F-buddy, and you might just be able to pull off a no-strings-attached deal.