Believe it or not, Australia’s youth are currently in the throes of a sex recession. In fact, data shows that teens are getting 50 per cent less sex than their parents, with 40 per cent of Aussies aged 18 to 24 revealing they’ve never done the deed. Though humans are more connected than ever thanks to proliferation of technology and social media, it’s actually what’s contributing to the current sex drought. Sexologist Jacqueline Hellyer told The Tele that dating apps, social media and porn are being used as a substitute for real human contact, and Gen Z are losing the ability to interact face-to-face. She said young adults are missing out on “tone, body language and human contact” that you get when meeting potential dates in real life. Hellyer also said dating apps provide young adults with endless options, and they are overwhelmed by choice paralysis, which ultimately leaves them dissatisfied with potential partners.

The sex recession has become so critical that it’s impacting the condom business.

Just yesterday, B&T reported on Four Seasons Condoms’ latest campaign by creative agency CHE Proximity.

At the heart of the campaign lies a Generation Intervention Pack, an educational kit designed to equip parents to be surrogate-sex therapists and to facilitate an intervention with their adult children.

Michael Porter, sales & marketing director at Four Seasons Condoms said: “Young people are facing more barriers to sex than ever before. Increased social media is depriving them of real human connection and usage can contribute to feelings of loneliness, anxiety and depression.

“With almost a quarter of young people in Australia facing mental health challenges we wanted to make sure that we created a moment this year where parents could sense check how their children are doing.”

While almost half of young adults have never had sex, and another 15 per cent have it one a month, almost 30 per cent of 40-49 year olds are doing the deed at least once a month.

Furthermore, two thirds of people in their 30s have sex monthly, according to a recent Australia Talks survey of 55,000 Aussies.

Porn has also contributed to the decline in sex rates amongst young adults, with both women and men comparing themselves to what they see online.