Consumer Pleasure Tech

Sextech is the future of consumer pleasure

Sextech includes everything from connected devices, sex virtual reality, sex bots powered by AI and machine learning, and platforms secured by blockchain.

Despite the industry being valued as a $33.64bn market in 2020, the field of SexTech is still kept under wraps due to its taboo nature. Even still, the sextech industry is growing exponentially. The global sexual wellness market, including sex tech, is expected to grow to $122.96 billion by 2026.

In the 1970s, Betty Dodson popularized vibrators to destigmatize masturbation. By helping women pleasure themselves, she dealt a blow to men's attempts to control female sexuality. Lora DiCarlo was the first sex-tech company to be allowed to exhibit at the Consumer Technology Association's (CTA) annual conference. Previously, only attractions that catered to the male gaze, such as virtual reality porn and sex dolls, were allowed.

Yet, founders who innovate in this space have an uphill battle to face. In the '90s, sexual wellness was considered a no-go for financial institutions, manufacturers and distributors. As a result, even forward-looking, in-demand sex tech products were left to wither on the vine.

What's more, many businesses know that they could thrive from their social media followings, and want to capitalize on these platforms, but face legal barriers when it comes to advertising. There's a double standard when it comes to ads for sex toys and products geared toward men. Unbound and Dame Products, two sex tech startups, have teamed up to bring attention to the issue. They launched a website and staged a protest outside Facebook's NYC HQ.

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In the News

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The Science of Sex Tech

Dame Magazine

Taboo no more: The sextech industry is on the rise, and here are the players making waves

Smart Company

Sex tech startups band together to protest Facebook's ad policies

Tech Crunch

There's a double standard when it comes to ads for sex toys and other sexual products geared toward men. Unbound and Dame Products, two sex tech startups, have teamed up to bring attention to the issue. They've launched a website and protested outside Facebook's NYC HQ. A lack of advertising can have a detrimental effect on a startup's ability to raise venture funding. Dame Products is suing New York City's Metropolitan Transportation Authority for violating Dame's First Amendment rights.

Let's talk about sex: older people's views on the recognition of sexuality and sexual health in the health-care setting

NCBI

Why Sex Tech Is the Overlooked Giant of the Wellness Industry

Newsweek

First came the 'tech', then 'smart tech' and now...'SexTech'!

Concord Monitor