New data reveals that more than half of people fall into a 'performance trap' when they masturbate, hiding their natural state of arousal. The 2026 'Pleasure Census', a global study by dating app HUD and Girls Get Off, gathered insights from 2,183 anonymous individuals across 63 countries.
Gen Z and the Performance Trap
The survey found that while 84 per cent of Gen Z engage in solo pleasure weekly, more than half (54 per cent) often catch themselves 'performing' even when completely alone. Across all age groups, the percentage drops to 44 per cent, still nearly half of all respondents.
What Is the Performance Trap?
Sexologist Becky Crepsley-Fox explains that performing during solo sex means 'thinking about how you look, sound, or “should” feel. Instead of being fully present in the experience, you're thinking about how you might be perceived, even if no one is there.' It means not letting natural arousal lead the way.
'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,' she says. 'People find themselves exaggerating vocally, pulling the faces they subconsciously think a partner wants to see, and moving their body in a way that doesn't actually flow with the current of their arousal.'
Influence of Porn and Screens
'For a generation raised on porn, it can be genuinely hard to unlearn the way we think we're supposed to behave during sex,' she adds. Katie Dissanayake, sex and dating expert at HUD App, attributes Gen Z's relationship with the trap to a lifetime of screens and cameras. She notes that 73 per cent of young people report appearance anxiety during sex.
Is Performing Always Bad?
Becky argues that performing during solo time isn't always bad. It can help people cast themselves as more active participants in fantasies, and physical 'performance' like grabbing your own breasts or being vocal can build arousal. The key is knowing the difference between a performance that adds to pleasure and one that pulls you out of it.
