The internet has always been synonymous with pornography and sex. With the upsurge of a more data-friendly and connected world, people no longer had to buy dirty magazines and Tijuana Bibles on the street corner, but could get good ol' fashioned nudies in the comfort of their own homes. Like much in today's world however, it seems like internet porn is actually becoming a dying industry as well, just like newspapers, good children's television and coin-operated laundry services.

According to Reuters, a data researcher has said that in the past decade, Porn-watching has decreased and, unexpectedly, Social Networking sites hits have increased enough that they have surpassed pornography as the #1 searched subject on the internet.

Oh.

According to the article, the two may actually be related:

 "As social networking traffic has increased, visits to porn sites have decreased," said Tancer, indicated that the 18-24 year old age group particularly was searching less for porn.

 

"My theory is that young users spend so much time on social networks that they don't have time to look at adult sites."

 

Phenomenal! Apparently our generation is spending so much of its time facebooking that we're just too damn tired to beat it off afterwards. My other theory (and the one I'm hoping is more true), is that we're maybe possibly using social networking sites to meet people and increase real world interaction?

Or maybe I'm just an optimist.