LOS ANGELES — Rolling Stone has highlighted several internet-based pleasure product brands in a new article that explores the "booming" rise of the "smart sex toy" market segment during coronavirus self-quarantine measures.
In the article, journalist EJ Dickson confers with Kyle Machulis from buttplug.io, Denny Alexander of We-Vibe and Ashton Egner from Kiiroo to explore the growing trend.
"Teledildonics has never quite caught on in mainstream culture," writes Dickson, noting that while interactive devices have recently gained popularity amongst the cam model community, and with appearances from brands like Lioness, OhMiBod and Satisfyer at this year's CES, "it’s hard to imagine high-tech sex toys being plugged on a Kardashian’s lifestyle site, the same way a more straightforward vibrator or other type of pleasure product would."
However, since social distancing measures have ramped up in the recent weeks, "couples are becoming long-distance by necessity," notes Dickson.
“Now, more than ever, people are actually experiencing what it means to not have contact with anyone at all, so they turn to tools that will help… facilitate touch and/or human interaction,” said Kiiroo's Egner.
Although pleasure product manufacturers have reported a spike in sales across relatively all markets and categories since the onset of various social distancing and lockdown measures, devices which can be controlled remotely present a unique opportunity for individuals who are otherwise separated to connect on an intimate level.
“We see no other explanation for the increase in sales other than the coronavirus,” said We-Vibe's Alexander.
While it remains to be seen if the teledildonics craze will carry through once lockdowns are eventually lifted, it nevertheless has served to spark interest, infusing the category with new intrigue and prompting some to give internet-connected devices a go.
