Whether you think of yourself as a virtual sex pro or not, the truth is we were already using tech in our every day sex lives pre-lockdown without even realising it. Dating apps , sliding into the DMs , sexting , Skype and WhatsApp were all helping us to facilitate casual hook ups , relationship sex and sexually charged flirting. What were once the tools we used mainly to build up to real life, in-person sex are now serving as the only way some of us are sexually connecting at all. When being physically touched by the other person is suddenly off the table, you become hyperaware of all the other ways we sexually consume each other. While this can be positive and gently push you towards trying something fun and new, it can also backfire. This is where the performance element of virtual sex kicks in, and why it has the potential to be problematic.

Having sex using your phone, computer, or other technology with someone you may or may not know is a lot less taboo than it used to be. From sending a nude Snapchat photo to having phone sex to masturbating with your partner on video chat, here's a crash course on what virtual sex is and how to have it safely. Virtual sex is anything sexual in nature happening in a digital space, according to psychotherapist Ashley D.

Many people may go without physical sexual intimacy for an extended and indefinite period. Given human touch and connection are fundamental to humanity, this could have significant implications for the well-being of those who are single or apart from their sexual partners. The media has reported people turning to digital technologies to find sexual pleasure and human contact during periods of social isolation.