Virtual reality porn is ‘highly addictive’ and ‘ruining relationships’ as lines blur, experts say

A new breed of interactive porn has emerged that is “ruining relationships everywhere”, experts are warning.

Virtual reality porn, a realistic alternative to sex created using advancements in AI, is booming in popularity.

According to IPSOS, around half of Aussie adults have used VR technology in some form with the industry expecting the number of regular users to rise to 3.7 million in Australia by 2028.

But while users argue it feels as real as being involved with a physical person, a recent study found the sex-tech can blur the line between reality and fantasy, which could damage relationships and lead to harmful behaviours.

Sunshine Coast-based relationship counsellor, Laura Press, said the difference between VR porn and the traditional 2D stuff makes it “highly addictive” – and she’s already witnessing it destroy romances.

“The use of virtual reality porn is becoming more common, but while there has always been an element of addiction with porn, it’s nothing like what we are seeing with this modern variation,” she told news.com.au.

“This addiction is next level, with research suggesting that compulsive use of VR porn sits at 20 percent of users, more than double the rate of addiction with 2D porn.

“This constant contact with pornography causes issues in relationships and often leads to decreased intimacy and connection between couples.”

Press, the resident relationship expert on Seven’s The Morning Show, said that while the sex-tech has its benefits for those who battle loneliness, it is causing a wealth of issues for those in relationships.

“Due to its interactivity, it can raise questions among couples about whether using VR porn is cheating as you are so much more involved compared with viewing standard pornography,” she said.

“What couples also raise in sessions with me is that once an addiction to VR porn kicks in, there is less or even no time for communication, affection and intimacy in the real life relationship.”

Another concerning matter is the “sensory overload” the experience, which is engaged with using headsets, can cause for users.

“Because virtual reality is designed in a way to meet all the senses and fulfil fantasies, the user can fall into sensory overload and regular intimacy with a person can seem dull by comparison,” Press explained.

“This can lead to someone watching more violent, aggressive or what some may describe as ‘bizarre’ fetish VR porn in order to get the dopamine and feel-good hit they are looking for.

“These fetishes can then invade the bedroom with the expectation that their partner would be OK with more extreme sex, which is not conducive to a healthy relationship.”

Worryingly, the relationship expert said 88 percent of all pornography contains some element of aggression, so VR porn can also cause issues with young viewers on what is appropriate when they begin their first sexual experiences.

Meanwhile the nature of it “mimicking what would happen when you have sex in real life” can have damaging effects on the brain.

“Your saliva production and oxytocin, the body’s feel good hormone, release and biomarkers increase dramatically – impacting your brain chemistry,” she shared.

“Your brain does not know if it is real or virtual, flooding your brain with dopamine. This is why people go back for more and more – this overload shuts down the dopamine receptors.

“The danger then is that in order to get that same ‘feel good’ feeling requires more intense, aggressive and for some even violent VR porn to get the same dopamine hit as felt on the very first use.”

Recent US statistics show around 15 percent of men have tried VR porn, with Australians being named as one of the biggest consumers of virtual reality porn in the world by Google data in 2017.

As the new genre in self-pleasure “explodes”, Press warned users need to be aware of the pitfalls and issues as the issues AI technology brings.

“Ultimately you are looking outside your relationship to spice it up when realistically you should be looking at one another and seeing what is really going on,” she said.

“Couples who look outside of their relationship to create excitement or pleasure, whether that is through tech use or other people, might get a short-term dopamine hit but it will likely lead to bigger issues in their relationship.

“Anything that changes your brain chemistry and artificially mimics the same response you would have if you were intimate with your partner is dangerous territory, and you should really think before acting and ask yourself why do we need this?”

As well as using AI technology, the porn industry itself has also embraced VR, with films created for use with headsets first hitting the scene back in 2016.

One of the first adult films created for the VR world was Virtual Sexology which starred August Ames and was aimed at “teaching men how to please a woman”, it was reported at the time.