Can Social Media Be the Cause of My Sexual Dysfunction?
Since the beginning of the technological age—let's call that the early 2000s, for the sake of argument—the use of social networking sites (SNSs) has grown across age groups. Such sites have undeniable advantages, they are not without fault.
Researchers have suggested it's a slippery slope from casual browsing and interaction to excessive usage. Few SNS users understand this use could escalate into addictive-type behaviors.
'Social media is ripe for comparison in just about every category of life, including accomplishments, experiences, wealth, health, body type, dating life, etcetera.'
A study published in June 2022 by Rui Miguel Costa of the William James Center for Research at Ispa in Portugal examined the relationship between unhealthy SNS and smartphone habits and sexual functioning. The researchers chose this angle because they found extensive research looking at social media addiction's effects on mental health, but parallel connections to sexual health were largely unexplored.
Critical analysis
First, you have to examine the terminology carefully.
"We know that compulsive behavior is very different from addiction," said Ness Cooper, a United Kingdom-based clinical sexologist and a resident expert for the sex toy website Je Joue. "The study highlighted doesn't use a fully medical view on addiction and more seems to be based on the researchers' thoughts on how they see addiction."
This is important to consider because it has the potential to sway the stance of the research findings.
The data in this study was derived from the assessment results of four prior studies—three from online surveys and one in a lab—analyzing sexual functioning in groups of sexually active men and women. Participants were assessed according to well-established scales, including the following:
- Female sexual distress scale–revised (FSDS–R). This is used to assess distress associated with impaired sexual function.
- Female sexual function index (FSFI). FSFI is a measure for the assessment of therapeutically induced change in female sexual function.
- Internet addiction scale (IAT). This is a series of criteria to measure addiction to the internet. A score of 0 to 30 is considered normal, whereas 80 to 100 indicates a severe dependence on the internet.
- International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF). This recognized multidimensional self-report instrument is used to evaluate male sexual function, recommended as a primary endpoint for clinical trials of erectile dysfunction (ED).
- Smartphone addiction scale–short version (SAS–SV). A means to measure the problematic use of a smartphone, this scale focuses on mental health traits and problems.
The study's findings suggested a spectrum of sexual dysfunction.
Men and women experienced lowered sexual satisfaction and orgasm difficulty, and men had poorer erectile function and desire. Women reported reduced arousal, including trouble lubricating, pain during sex and overall sexual distress.
Despite the primary focus being the interaction between addictive-like SNS behaviors and sexual functioning, similar smartphone behaviors were included because SNSs are typically accessed through these devices, making them relevantly coincident.
"Social media is ripe for comparison in just about every category of life, including accomplishments, experiences, wealth, health, body type, dating life, etcetera," said Lilith Foxx, an online sexologist and inclusivity consultant based in Texas.
She pointed out that the omnipresence of social media leads inactive individuals to be socially unaccepted, adding to the pressure to use smartphones and—by extension—social networking sites.
This occurs regardless of actual authenticity, and Foxx warned against the dangers of perfectly curated narratives and the potential to misunderstand social situations due to increased visibility.
"When coupled with the tendency to compare yourself to others, it fits all of the classic criteria for sexual dysfunction and even problematic sexual behavior, like feelings of inadequacy, insecurities, misinformation about sex and sexual health, exacerbating stress, amongst other issues," she added.
'If we don't feel good about ourselves or our lives, then it's likely we won't be feeling great about connecting with ourselves and others intimately.'
Targeted ads that exploit vulnerabilities are another important element that feeds into addictive-like SNS usage. As an example, Foxx used a person searching for information about sexual dysfunction. That person is bombarded with ads that make them feel even worse. In her opinion, the subtle and suggestive properties of the ads amplify that influence, too.
Cooper agreed with the domino effect of dysregulation throughout various areas of life, but she emphasized how critical it is to examine all of its possible causes, especially regarding sexual health.
"When it comes to compulsive social media use leading to lessened sexual function, I wouldn't say that social media is the sole reason for it," she said. "It can be easy to blame something when we see it regularly, but sexual function is a lot more complicated."
The flip side of social media
Now, this is not to condemn social media usage entirely, but rather its problematic utilization.
Foxx, who has extensive experience in the digital world, said it can provide a platform to connect with like-minded people and foster a sense of community and support.
"This can be particularly beneficial for individuals from marginalized communities, such as the BIPOC, LGBTQ+ and disability communities, as it can help them build connections, access resources and gain a sense of empowerment," she explained. "That said, users are subject to censorship that disproportionately affects gender-expansive, BIPOC and bigger-bodied individuals."
Additionally, Foxx noted SNSs are a useful tool for a range of topics related to inclusive sex education, awareness and consent, with the caveat that viewers need to be able to discern between accuracies and inaccuracies. She recommended a few reputable sources, including Planned Parenthood and Scarleteen for blogs and resource pages, SIECUS for comprehensive sex education resources, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for accurate public health information.
Insights and implications
The process of social media becoming an inextricable part of existence has been ongoing.
"Anyone who works in sex tech or the digisexuality industry is heavily aware that these technologies are not new and they have been integrated into our relationship dynamics a long time ago," Cooper said. "We need to stop focusing on these technologies as new, and generally when someone does refer to them as new, they are either trying to sell something or incite moral panic."
She said the notion of conducting experimental studies by "spending less time on social media or avoiding negative emotions that social media can trigger" was inadvisable.
"Personally, I think it could be dangerous and the method used would be similar to ABA [applied behavior analysis] therapy or conversion therapy," Cooper said. "Generally, methods like this don't solve sexual dysfunction long-term and are only short-lived."
Perhaps the most significant conclusion to be drawn from this study is the findings are not causational, which Costa, the study's author, mentioned in the text of the study and our sources stressed. Rather, the results need to be seen as correlational, and this must be considered in future research.
"Negative mood has long been associated with sexual difficulties," Foxx said. "If we don't feel good about ourselves or our lives, then it's likely we won't be feeling great about connecting with ourselves and others intimately."
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