A sex expert has shared insights into the intriguing reason behind the shortage of male adult film stars in 2025.
Working in the adult entertainment industry, be it through porn or OnlyFans, still carries a significant stigma. This is especially true for men, it seems.
Data from Zipdo reveals that 80 percent of adult film performers are women, highlighting a noticeable lack of men in the industry.
In her column for the Metro, sex expert Melissa Todd delves into why this might be and discusses its impact on the adult film industry overall.
Todd notes that porn producers often look for new talent on social media platforms like X, but despite applications from men, they frequently fail to attend auditions.
“Maybe men feel their identity and self-esteem is more closely tied to their sexual performance than women,” Todd suggests.
She continues: “Maybe porn being blamed for every societal ill is also a factor. We know young people are becoming increasingly puritanical and having less sex than previous generations.
“There is simply a drought among young men wanting to enter this industry. But, I guess it’s a particular skill to climax to order before a roomful of strangers.”
Additionally, Todd points out that the audition process can be daunting. “Surrounded by actors, camera crew, producer, wardrobe, make up artist, and a (usually female) director barking, ‘Now get an erection!’ he’ll often find himself incapable and humiliated.”
This scenario leads to more women entering the field, as they face fewer challenges, according to Todd.
“Girls have it way easier,” she asserts. “We can so easily fake every stage of arousal. A good squirt of lube, a healthy dose of panting, sighing, noisy screaming. But you probably don’t need me to tell you that.”
Considering the broader trend of people having less sex, it’s not surprising that fewer individuals are pursuing careers in adult films.
A 2017 study published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior indicated that the average adult engages in sexual activity about once a week.
This was a decrease of approximately nine times per year compared to similar research from the 1990s.
Furthermore, a recent study, ‘The State of Dating: How Gen Z is Redefining Sexuality and Relationships’, conducted alongside the dating app Feeld, shows that Gen Z is having less sex and forming fewer relationships than previous generations.
“Also, nearly half of Gen Z reported that they were single, compared to only one-fifth of Millennials, Gen X, and Boomers,” noted Lead researcher Dr. Justin Lehmiller.