A significant amount of digital media use is sexuality-related, e.g., use of online pornography, sex dating apps, webcam sex, sexting, or remote-controlled sex toys. There is a growing body of literature on sexuality-related internet and smartphone use and its effects, particularly public health and sexual health impacts. However, there is also a lack of conceptual clarity and classification of different types sexual activities in digital contexts. The Media Psychology and Media Design Group at Technische Universität Ilmenau in collaboration with experts in the fields of psychology, medicine, and communication science have developed a new conceptual model of sexual interaction in digital contexts (SIDC). The model addresses different types of SIDC and their causes and consequences. The model is meant to provide a systematic framework to assist future research in this emerging field. It is published in Frontiers in Psychology – a multidisciplinary and open-access peer-reviewed journal with an impact factor of IF=2.988 (2020).
Döring, N., Krämer, N., Mikhailova, V., Brand, M., Krüger T., & Vowe, G. (2021). Sexual interaction in digital contexts and its implications for sexual health: A conceptual analysis. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, Article 769732. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.769732