What are the Demographics of Lit?

[Priscilla_June]

As I think about some content I see posted here, interact with folks on the forums, and think about my future as an erotic author, I’m curious. What are the demographics (age wise/generational) here on Lit? My perception from the discussion here in AH, and the reaction to many types/styles/themes of stories here is that the general user/readership is older here. By that I mean 35 and up.

I obviously have no hard facts to go on other than impression. But if I am correct, is this indicative of written erotica being less popular with younger people today? Or is it specifically this site?

Interested to hear people’s perspectives/experience on this.

 

[Rustyoznail]

Your wish is my command - well, Em's command.

https://forum.literotica.com/threads/your-age-rounded-to-the-nearest-decade.1586490/

 

[KeithD]

There's no telling. It's the sort of website where folks will have more than one account and many of them won't give true personal data. Just spinning wheels to speculate.

 

[Euphony]

I'd assume whatever generation that didn't grow up on internet porn (and older) Would find easier to engage with written/more imaginative artforms.

Mostly hetero normative Caucasians with lovely pockets of diversity that delightfully season this place when they don't allow themselves to be driven off by trolls.

Male bias but that's just gross numbers, the quality bar is far more inclusive of all kinds.

 

[ElectricBlue]

Nobody knows.

The AH is an atypical subset though, and reflects writers, not readers. I suspect too, that each category has its own demographic.

My gut feel - there's a shit ton more written erotica than there ever was, and also a whole lot more visual content, so it's difficult to say anything with any sort of wisdom.

 

[NotWise]

I've given this a little thought lately, and this is what I have:

What Literotica offers is solitary entertainment. That might put Lit readers in the same sort of demographic as people who use other solitary entertainments like crossword puzzles or solitaire.

I don't know how ages run (other than the self-reported ages of AH contributors), but I wouldn't be surprised if the time needed means that Lit readers are a little older than the average adult. It also could explain why weekends and family-oriented holidays seem to be slow times in Lit-ville. People give up their solitary entertainments in favor of socializing with friends and family.

 

[SimonDoom]

I don't know, and I'm OK with that.

 

[lc69hunter]

I am in my 70's, and have always been attracted to the written word, starting when I found a softcover of the novel "The Story of O" down by the railroad tracks as a 14 year old. Even during the Playboy, Penthouse, and Hustler days, I craved the stories, the written word, over pictures, no matter how explicit.

After decades of living many lifestyles, with great memories. I still prefer the written word.

 

[AwkwardlySet]

On the other hand, when it comes to younger individuals in their 20s and 30s who become excessively engrossed in online platforms, it's possible that they are either inherently more inclined towards anti-social behavior or tragically experience feelings of loneliness, even when they are in a relationship.

There are also those who feel embarrassed by their kinks and would never admit them in public or to their partner, or they think they can't find someone who shares those kinks. Lit is a perfect place for them to indulge in those fantasies while still engaging in vanilla sex in real life. There are so many reasons one can find a place like Lit appealing, old or young.

 

[AwkwardlySet]

Typically, young people who conform to societal norms tend to spend their free time engaging in direct interactions with one another, rather than being glued to screens.

I'd say that hundreds of "normal" teens I teach would disagree with you there . They socialize plenty, they go out, they engage in sports, and they work, but they also never let their phones out of their hands. Your statement was probably true back in the day when the only screen was a TV or a desktop/laptop computer, but smartphones and cheap internet changed everything.

 

[OlderFitterWiser]

In a healthy relationship, it is common for partners to openly communicate and explore their kinks together. Indulging in excessive reading is time-consuming and more suitable for those who have ample free time, such as retirees or singles. Typically, young people who conform to societal norms tend to spend their free time engaging in direct interactions with one another, rather than being glued to screens.

I find many young people use their phone for things that older people do in the real world.
Examples; Food Shopping, talking to peers, asking their mother to make a sandwich, dating sites.

Not all of course but many in my opinion.

So I'm not sure about direct Interactions for many of them.

 

[TxRad]

Why can't you both be right since Lit is redesigning the whole place for the phone generations. That and google.

 

[ElectricBlue]

the reality that a significant portion of the readership here is over 40 for a reason.

And the hard data behind this statement is... ?

 

[onehitwanda]

And the hard data behind this statement is... ?

Imaginary.

 

[PandemicReader8]

In a group that includes people who are running multiple accounts, people who regularly misrepresent their age, gender and marital stuatus and even people who try to fake their own death for a reset of who they are on Lit, no data set collected can be given a higher confidence rating than -maybe - a D

 

[MelissaBaby]

And the hard data behind this statement is... ?

The evidence is "Kids these days..."

 

[onehitwanda]

The evidence is "Kids these days..."

Is the abstract "get off my lawn" ?

 

[alohadave]

And the hard data behind this statement is... ?

The words of a troll. He's being subtle, but has basically call everyone under 40 on this site losers with mental defects that can't cope with life.

For the older crowd, he's saying that the only reason to be here is boredom.

 

[SimonDoom]

The path begins with a rite of circumcision.

Are you sure you don't mean craniotomy?

 

[XerXesXu]

Are you sure you don't mean craniotomy?

The foreskin's grafted into a vacant cranium.

 

[Priscilla_June]

I think this thread speaks to the demographics of AH well

 

[Rustyoznail]

 

[Bramblethorn]

As I think about some content I see posted here, interact with folks on the forums, and think about my future as an erotic author, I’m curious. What are the demographics (age wise/generational) here on Lit? My perception from the discussion here in AH, and the reaction to many types/styles/themes of stories here is that the general user/readership is older here. By that I mean 35 and up.

I obviously have no hard facts to go on other than impression. But if I am correct, is this indicative of written erotica being less popular with younger people today? Or is it specifically this site?

It's impossible to measure this kind of thing with any great precision. A lot of people don't put their ages in their profiles, those who do aren't necessarily telling the truth, and even those who answer honestly don't necessarily keep their age up to date.

From conversations here, my impression is that the membership does have a significant contingent of older folk, more than a lot of websites I'm on. But if that's true, I think it has far more to do with the nature and history of this particular site than with Young People Today. There are other sites like Ao3 which have a ton of erotica but, AFAICT, a much younger readership than here.

 

[Priscilla_June]

Update (and more accurate bin labels / row totals):

18-24:
25-34: (12)
35-44: (10)
45-54: (9)
55-64: (9)
65-74: (11)
75-84: (4)
85-94: (1)

Getting a little less nice as a curve.

Em

Here is at least one poll I dug up from Em’s thread. But to a few people’s point people could be dishonest. But i would think they would be dishonest claiming to be younger? So hence the poll even weights towards older

 

[HeyAll]

Here are some stats:

https://www.similarweb.com/website/literotica.com/#geography

60 million monthly visits

50% of Lit are Americans

80% men
20% women