Back in 2020, one of the most talked-about news items making the rounds online was when Jeffrey Toobin, a decorated reporter for the New Yorker got caught masturbating while on a Zoom video meeting between staff members of the New Yorker and WNYC radio. It turns out that he was not aware that his camera was on, so without a second thought he opens another tab on his computer and begins pleasuring himself. Little did he know that he has got audience while doing the deed.
The story has garnered a lot of reactions from people across the internet. Some couldn’t believe that there actually are people who have the guts to gratify their sexual pleasure during working hours. While others were surprised at how stupid he could be for not making sure that his camera and microphone were off while he is in a virtual meeting.
Wrong Place, Wrong Time
Perhaps it is not too shocking anymore when it comes to hyper masculine men’s penises and their sense of superiority. It is kind of bothering that they do unimaginable things at an inappropriate time because they just can’t wait anymore. Even the need to touch themselves or for someone else to see or do the task for them, just so they can satisfy their sexual cravings.
The list may go on, but those are only a few high-profile examples of men who deny rape culture while perpetuating it and believe in stereotypes about their primal “need” for sex. Though Toobin is another well-known name to blame for workplace sexual harassment, the truth is that he is only one of millions of men who jerk off at work every day. And the numbers are on the rise.
The Stats
Data shows that before this COVID-19 pandemonium began, there were about 39% of people who have experienced masturbating at work. A huge chunk of these are men, as expected. This coincides with the statistics that even during workdays, from Monday to Friday, 70% of internet porn is being accessed worldwide. Popular porn streaming site Pornhub has recorded in 2016 that they experience a surge in online traffic between 10:00 in the morning and 7:00 in the evening, with the most people tuning in when the clock strikes 3:00 until 4:00 in the afternoon.
Now that working from home is the new norm, employed people have more access to privacy. And while they enjoy a more private working environment, they have more chance to get their sexual thirst quenched even during working hours. New data show that 35% of men and 17% of women masturbating while working remotely. Not much difference in numbers since whether or not they work on site or at home, when the call of the flesh rings, most people are willing to submit anyway.
However, successfully achieving orgasm while working from home comes with more benefits. Working at home allows employees to connect to their home networks rather than their workplace networks, which may have firewalls that restrict adult websites, allowing them the ability to access NSFW content during the workday.
Procrasturbation
Adult webcam companies who have a wide plethora of cam babes willing to strip and pleasure themselves as well in front of the camera is a popular niche in the online sex industry with millions of users that tune in everyday.
Reports show that site traffic dramatically increased by 13% during the beginning months of the pandemic in May to October 2020. This can be associated to the stress that the current global crisis causes to a lot of people worldwide. People are suffering from pandemic exhaustion and are evidently resorting to what we can call “procrasturbation,” especially between the hours of 11:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Adult webcam sites traffic increased 18% between March and September relative to the previous six months.
Sex Toys
In another topic, it seems that the online sex industry is not only the one benefiting from the new normal of working remotely. Is anybody shocked by this? After the outbreak, the sex toy industry has seen a significant surge in sales as well. If people are lonely, missing their long-distance girlfriend or boyfriend, unable to get out for casual hookups, or seeking new ways to self-gratify, the 30-100 percent boost in sex-toy sales indicates that people are in dire need of masturbating more than ever.
This makes perfect sense, since orgasms are both pleasurable and stress-relieving. COVID, and now the onset of seasonal depression have some of us scrambling for our underwear to ease stress and fill our bodies with feel-good oxytocin and endorphin hormones. And, since all of us work from home, we have more time to spare exploring our sexual desires and fantasies with the help of sex toys.
During these trying times, a large number of people feel lonely. People have suddenly been deprived of embraces, high fives, and pats on the back because of social distancing. Even though romantic contact was not a part of the relationship, people are missing skin-to-skin contact. Touch causes the activation of oxytocin, also known as the cuddle hormone. It also improves cognitive function thus lowering cortisol levels and boosting mood.
Guilty Or Not Guilty
If we look at relevant survey data, 52% of men from 18-30 years old have admitted to watching porn while at work. While on the older spectrum of aged 31-49, 74% have admitted to be guilty of doing the same. Take note that this data was collected before the COVID pandemic. Meanwhile, amidst this pandemic, 52% of working men and women say they casually masturbate while working from home. Around 13% of those admit to feeling bad about doing such acts.
If we look and consider all the factors that pushes a lot of people into masturbating while at work, it doesn’t seem to be much of a deed one has to feel guilty about. As long as you are able to perform well and comply with what is needed from you at work, then you are free to do it as much as you need. But to save you from your blushes, just make sure that you are not in a Zoom meeting and your camera is off.
