Can virtual reality porn bring couples closer together? Some experts are saying yes and their reasoning might surprise you.
While most people are still thinking of virtual reality as an entertainment platform, there are a few bold individuals who are claiming it’s something else entirely. To this small group of technological progressives, virtual reality is, at its core, a communications breakthrough – one that’s set to revolutionize the way people interact on a daily basis.
Romance 2.0
One particular area where virtual reality is already shaking things up can be found in the bedroom. As old-fashioned as it might sound, the domestic life of husband and wife is still one of the most fundamental types of relationship. But the reality is that pornography has become a staple of modern marriages. Over one-third of women admit to watching porn on a weekly basis and even this shocking statistic pales in comparison to the number of men. Now, with the advent of virtual reality, this porn-adjusted love life of domestic households is about to undergo another shift.
The Power Of Perspective
VR porn is substantially more immersive than traditional video. Professionals are hoping that this enhanced immersion will produce more empathy in the viewer and infuse a level of intimacy previously lost. What this means for couples is that they might finally get the chance to explore their sexual fantasies together without risking their relationship.
There are a number of ways that virtual reality could spice up a couple’s sex life but one of the most controversial involves the possibility of cheating without actually cheating. The first-person perspective of many adult VR videos allows the participant to inhabit any physical body they want. Specific videos are now being made that allow both partners to wear a headset and experience the same scene from two opposing perspectives.
Not only does this allow a person to be whomever they want, but it also means they can swap genders. For those who are adventurous enough to try it, this can be a shocking experience. Even self-professed veterans like female sex blogger GirlOnTheNet admits it was a bit overwhelming at first.
"I was genuinely surprised by the kick of jealousy I got the first time I watched what he'd been watching. It's so close and intense - although I know he watches lots of porn when I'm not there, something about this felt more personal, with the boobs-in-face and the heavy-breathing-in-ear."
As unpleasant as it might sound, confronting emotional conflicts like these is precisely what makes VR porn so potentially useful. Allowing couples to experience what the other enjoys gives them both the opportunity to understand and connect in ways that were previously unthinkable.
A Virtual Renaissance
Image credit: Study
It’s not difficult to imagine that as virtual interactions like these become more common, the importance of our physical bodies for romance might slowly diminish. Could the end result be a renaissance of character based relationships that focus on emotional compatibility rather than just physical appearance?
Technology has always been a double-edged sword when it comes to relationships, and social media is a prime example of this. Applications like Instagram and Snapchat have made communication more convenient, but the type of communication these platforms encourage is often less meaningful. In the romantic sphere, there is software like Tinder and PlentyOfFish that makes it easier than ever for people to find love but only a love that's increasingly superficial.
The question facing virtual reality is whether or not this communications technology is essentially different. Will virtual reality break the trend and help inject substance back into our relationships? Or will it accelerate the hyper-individualism that’s come to define western culture? Either way, I know exactly what my girlfriend and I will be doing after dinner tonight. Let’s just hope she lets me be the guy this time...
