Google data shows what’s hot and what’s not – when it comes to searches for sex acts

Saucy Brits have ditched dogging, cybersex, and spanking – in favour of “gooning” and “femboy”, when it comes to “what’s hot” and “what’s not” in online sex act searches. Analysis of 160 million Google data points revealed the growth and decline across more than 100 key kink words over the last five years.

And the data itself discovered the five highest trending words included “femboy” – a male who displays traditionally feminine characteristics – and “thirst trap”, where someone posts content with the intention of being desired.

But the most popular search term was “gooning” – the act of achieving prolonged arousal through sensory overload, often involving hypnotic stimuli.

The findings also showed dogging was in decline over the past five years as a kink – while searches for “foreplay” have seen the most dramatic fall across the same period.

The inaugural “SexDex” has been released by Sensuali, a sex-positive platform for sensualists and the sexually curious.

A spokesman said: “The UK is officially a nation of kink! About 10 million adults regularly participate in kinky sexual activity each month.

“The fact is, if kink participation was a sport, it would be up there with playing football as the nation’s favourite. Our findings provide a fascinating insight into exactly what’s going on in Brits’ bedrooms, and inside the sexual imaginations of the nation.”

The report was authored by Rachel Thompson, a leading sex and relationship expert, and created by analysing more than 100 of the most popular kink-related keywords, mapped against Google search data and insights from Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Twitter/X, and Sensuali website traffic, over the past five years.

The data suggests a rapidly changing landscape of sexual tastes sweeping the UK, fuelled by social media and intergenerational changes.

Britain is no longer a nation of spankers (down 33 percent), doggers (down 34 percent), or cottagers – with searches and social interactions for “cottaging” down a massive 70 percent over the last five years.

The “SexDex” also shines a spotlight on a whole new sexual vocabulary that has emerged online to skirt censorship, dubbed “the sexicon” or “algospeak”.

Neologisms like seggs (sex), corn (porn), mascara (romantic sexual partner), and accountant (sex worker) have emerged, allowing content creators to evade algorithmic filters on sites like TikTok and Instagram, cracking down on overly sexual content.

Sensuali’s spokesman added: “We exist as a platform for the sexually curious, enabling individuals to offer or seek sensual experiences within a safe, kink-positive, and inclusive environment.”