LESS MEAT, LESS BOOZE… MORE SEX
Our sexual desires remain instinctive but the way we consume sex commercially is evolving…
Welcome to the future with our Next Big Thing issue.
Welcome to the Next Big Things issue of DNA, where we get excited about the trends that are happening in fashion, culture, technology and sex… all the things we love. The only thing I’m not really across in this issue is gaming. Our story makes the next big things in gaming sound very exciting, and it is the most lucrative entertainment sector in the world, but it hasn’t grabbed me yet. The last time I “gamed” was when Tomb Raider came out and all I could get Lara Croft to do was walk into a wall! I know, a lot has changed since then. For instance, one of the newest games is called Tell Me Why and features a transgender character and her twin, who are searching for clues to their past. That’s a pretty big leap forward from big-breasted cyber-femmes hunting radioactive mutant zombies.
Now, you might think that sex is sex and there’s not much that can be “new” in that department. While our sexual desires remain instinctive (and pretty basic!) the way we consume sex commercially is evolving at a rapid pace. Porn stars like Alam Wernik, Carter Dane and cover boy Ian Frost are using new media and new technology to shake up the industry.
OnlyFans is challenging the dominance of the traditional studios, porn stars are using social media to meet the needs of their followers directly, and even the sex toys available are smarter than ever, utilising apps and GPS technology, not to mention 3D experiences. You can find out all about it in this issue.
As the world warms and we become more mindful of sustainable practices, two green-friendly trends have made our list this year: one is the global shift towards a less meat-based diet – good for you, good for the planet. The other is a simple and welcome return to shaving with a safety razor. How much plastic are we throwing away every year with disposable razors and their replacement heads, not to mention the waste created by aerosol and plastic shave cream containers?
Other Next Big Thing trends in this issue include new queer musicians, profiled by Entertainment writer Marc Andrews, and fabulous new gadgets gathered by Style guy Joshua Heath (cameras, bikes, bags, footwear, recycled sunnies). And Conall Ferguson writes about the decline in alcohol consumption across the Western World. The last few years have seen a downward trend in consumption, and the younger you are the less alcohol you’re drinking, so it appears to be a next-gen powered phenomenon. LGBTIQ alcohol consumption is significantly higher than among the general population so perhaps this is one trend we should be paying particular attention to.