The new avenue of online sexual activity in China: The smartphone

Abstract

We investigated the prevalence of online sexual activity (OSA) via smartphone and personal computer (PC), as well as the psychological mechanisms underlying OSA via smartphone and PC. OSAs were categorized as viewing sexually explicit material (SEM), sexual partner seeking, cybersex, and flirting. Participants (N = 505) completed measures of OSA experience via smartphone and PC within the past 12 months. Sexual sensation seeking (the propensity to attain optimal levels of sexual excitement and to engage in novel sexual experiences) and sociosexuality (openness to uncommitted sexual relations) were assessed to examine the psychological mechanisms underlying OSA. The reported prevalence of OSA via smartphone and PC was high (88.32% and 86.34%, respectively). There was no significant difference in the prevalence and frequency of solitary-arousal OSA (i.e., viewing SEM) between smartphone and PC access, while in partnered-arousal OSA (i.e., partner seeking, cybersex, and flirting) the prevalence and frequency via smartphone was higher than via PC. Men reported a higher prevalence and frequency of OSA than women via both smartphone and PC. In addition, sexual sensation seeking and sociosexuality were positively related to OSA via smartphone and PC. The results indicate that the smartphone has become an important avenue to access sexuality online.