Sexuality in Cyberspace: Update for the 21st Century

Abstract

Online sexuality has become a much discussed topic in the 90's however most people continue to have a narrow and uninformed view of what this area truly consists of. This paper provides an overview of the ubiquitous and explosive effect of the Internet on sexuality and summarizes the following key dimensions including: internet relationships and how they influence face to face relationships, alternative communities and sexually disenfranchised people, commercial aspects of internet sexuality, concerns about employee morality and productivity, and, sexual information and education in the 21st century. The internet and associated technological advances will have a tremendous influence on every aspect of sexuality in this new ''information age'' and thus we encourage professionals involved in this area to get informed and thereby have a say in shaping the future. In addition, those keeping current with these rapid developments will be in a position to both warn people as to the pathological aspects of cybersexual behavior, as well as educate them as to the more adaptive and expansive sex-positive opportunities offered by the internet.