In the initial era of the internet, locating adult content was a challenge. The 1980s ushered in ASCII porn, eventually progressing into early peer-to-peer networks circulating low-resolution images. The advent of the World Wide Web enabled the first performers to monetize their personal websites, though users initially had to deal with modems.

With enhancements in broadband, platforms like Pornhub, YouPorn, and RedTube began to present complimentary (often pirated) materials in the mid-2000s, while smartphones shifted viewing to smaller displays. OnlyFans, introduced in 2016, transformed the landscape by streamlining content production and normalizing subscription models.

Nonetheless, Pornhub continues to lead in traffic, tallying over a billion visits last month versus OnlyFans’ 280 million, as per Similarweb. The rollout of Pornhub Shorties, a feature currently in testing, aims to further boost the accessibility of explicit content.

Pornhub Shorties is akin to Instagram Reels but tailored for adult material: brief, engaging videos in a vertical, scroll-through format. Users on Reddit have eagerly awaited this update, proposing it should have been labeled “Quickies.” It entered beta in March 2024 and is gradually being made available on devices. While Pornhub has yet to confirm an official release date, the feature is already functional.

The shift towards vertical content makes sense, as individuals hold their smartphones vertically 94% of the time, and the majority of Pornhub’s traffic is from mobile users. Numerous Pornhub videos are in landscape mode, prompting viewers to rotate their devices and manage them with both hands for an immersive experience.

Vertical adult content seems to be the way forward. “Porn mirrors and influences the media landscape. It’s only logical for Pornhub to establish its own TikTok-esque platform for vertically recorded videos,” states Hallie Lieberman, a historian and journalist specializing in sexuality. The scrolling mechanism can be captivating, as psychiatrist and author Anna Lembke observes, inducing a trance-like state that’s difficult to break free from. Doomscrolling has become a prevalent habit.

Ironically, vertical content encroaches on our horizontal time. A YouGov survey revealed that 87% of Britons check their phones within an hour of bedtime, with many consuming adult content at night. Shorties aims to capture this focus and promote ongoing scrolling.

For content creators, Shorties presents potential advantages. Engaging with the platform may amplify reach and income, akin to Reels. However, Pornhub’s history is not without flaws; it laid the foundation for the adult “gig economy” that OnlyFans and similar platforms have capitalized on. As of February, the average earnings per 1,000 streams stood at merely $0.69.

Lola May, known as Saint Bunnie, a 23-year-old adult content creator, has experienced initial success with Shorties. Her work includes brief blowjob scenes and stripteases. “I can’t determine how much the algorithm is boosting their visibility, but they seem to outperform typical vertical videos,” she comments.

Shorties provide a venue for “low-pressure” vertical videos and supplementary mobile footage that might otherwise underperform. To generate ad revenue, creators must deliver action-packed content. “The secret to Shorties is action, action, action,” May elaborates.

For viewers, Shorties deliver quick content without the need for searching. In contrast to a curated Pornhub Playlist, Shorties provide an unending stream of media. A swift scroll shows popular categories such as Milf, Amateur, and Teen, with a focus on in media res action.

Despite the opportunities, vertical content has yet to be widely accepted. As highlighted in Pornhub’s Year in Review 2024, Vertical was the least-watched category, with an average viewing duration of four minutes and 14 seconds. Nevertheless, it appeals to younger audiences, with those aged 18-24 most likely to watch Vertical videos.

A representative from Pornhub expressed enthusiasm: “Our new vertical platform, Shorties, is in beta, but initial responses have been encouraging. We look forward to providing further updates when it officially launches later this year.”

The spokesperson did not elaborate on the feedback, but if Shorties succeed in attracting viewers, could engagement evolve into indulgence?

Pornhub likely aspires for Shorties to enhance user engagement through short-form video. Lembke explains that brief content activates the brain’s reward pathways, yielding immediate gratification with minimal effort.

Shorties might also play a role in the burgeoning trend of gooning, characterized by prolonged masturbation sessions without climax. Online, gooning has evolved into a subculture, with participants pursuing a meditative “goon state.”

Could goonscrolling emerge, merging two routes to compulsive behavior? Lembke suggests it could exacerbate challenges for those who struggle to halt adult content consumption. “Short-form videos tailored for pornography will heighten the effects and risks of addiction.”

The NoFap community voices its concerns. “This is disheartening. They’re assaulting us with all their might,” reads a prominent comment on a Reddit discussion regarding Shorties.

May, the creator on Pornhub, is