More than half of Gen Z individuals (54%) admit to 'performing' during masturbation, according to the 2026 Pleasure Census, a global survey by dating app HUD and Girls Get Off. The study, which polled 2,183 anonymous respondents across 63 countries, reveals that 44% of all age groups fall into this 'performance trap,' hiding their natural state of arousal even when completely alone.
What is the 'performance trap'?
Sexologist Becky Crepsley-Fox explains that performing during solo sex involves 'thinking about how you look, sound, or “should” feel' instead of being fully present. Many people exaggerate vocalizations, pull faces they think a partner wants, or move in ways that don't align with their natural arousal, even with no one watching.
'Because so many of us fall into the habit of “performing” during partnered sex, plenty of people find it surprisingly hard to switch that off when they’re on their own,' says Crepsley-Fox. 'For a generation raised on porn, it can be genuinely hard to unlearn the way we think we’re supposed to behave during sex.'
Gen Z's screen-driven pressure
Katie Dissanayake, sex and dating expert at HUD App, attributes Gen Z's tendency to perform to a lifetime of screens and cameras. The survey found that 73% of young people report appearance anxiety during sex, a concern that spills over into solo time.
'Being the first generation to grow up in a world that is constantly being captured and shared online, it’s understandable that the expectations people place on their appearance during sex can spill over into masturbation,' Dissanayake tells Metro. Questions like 'do men take a lot of notice of a girl’s body during sex?' or 'should I moan during sex?' frequently appear on platforms like Reddit.
Not always a bad thing
Despite its negative connotations, performing during masturbation can have benefits. Crepsley-Fox notes that fantasy or porn use can make performing a way to become a more active participant in imagined scenarios, enhancing pleasure.
'There’s an upside physically, too,' she adds. 'If part of your “performance” is grabbing your own breasts or stroking your body, you turn masturbation into a full-body experience rather than a purely genital one. There’s also something nice about the feedback loop of your own sounds; letting yourself be vocal can build arousal rather than break it.'
Finding the balance
The key, according to Crepsley-Fox, is distinguishing between a performance that enhances pleasure and one that detracts from it. 'Ultimately, the trick is knowing the difference between a performance that adds to your pleasure and one that pulls you out of it,' she says.
