Social media, self-pornography, and gay/bisexual/queer men’s psychosexual wellbeing

Despite the internet’s historical significance for LGBTQ+ identities and communities, contemporary public health research overlooks how gay, bisexual, and queer (GBQ+) men utilise online spaces for sexual expression and connections. This study explores the role of pornographic content creation and sharing on social media among Australian GBQ+ men, addressing the gap in understanding its implications for health and wellbeing. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among N = 596 men (M_age = 36.1 years; SD = 11.4) in Australia, allowing us to investigate their practices of producing and sharing pornographic content on social media. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were employed to explore demographics, psychosexual wellbeing, and motivations for content creation. It was found that 71.3% of participants reported producing sexual self-representations, and 15.1% shared this content publicly on social media, without commercial interest. Participants who produced content (either for sharing privately or publicly) exhibited higher sex positivity and sexual self-esteem than those not producing content. There was no significant difference regarding age or sexual orientation. Qualitative analysis revealed the key motivations for sharing sexual content on social media were for arousal, connection, and validation. These findings underscore the multifaceted motivations behind GBQ+ men’s engagement with pornographic content creation, emphasising its role in social connection and personal validation. Recognising these practices within health frameworks is crucial for understanding and accommodating GBQ+ men’s digital sexual cultures.