What to expect in 2023?

The old year has brought development in erotic toy management apps, a ray of hope for men, eco-friendly vibrators, the rise of artificial intelligence, and a lot of big bucks for the erotic toys industry and content creators. 

Despite the bankruptcy of Lora DiCarlo, a company that promised the most technologically attractive toys, the number of erotic toy owners grew throughout the year. Today, 69% of women use them. The United States accounts for the majority of purchases, 30%. Of all the erotic toys sold, to my great surprise, a good quarter is dildos. Men are less likely to buy erotic accessories and are primarily involved in buying toys for couples.

As predicted, the erotic industry is booming. Although the year promised a lot, it did not seem like anything special to me. But it is true, interest in toys among women grew, mainly due to the trend towards a greater focus on one's own well-being and the recognition of the LGBTQ+ community. But, unfortunately, inflation has also led to a rise in prices on average. 

2022 has indeed brought eco-friendly toys, but some, like Gaia, still have a long way to go to be real success. However, The Natural Love Company has done it, and Womanizer has put its first eco-friendly vibrator on its shelves.

The ray of hope for men quickly faded. Although companies promised a real revolution in this field, none succeeded in reaching the expectations of a public whose gaze was directed somewhere far away from masturbators and penis rings. On the other hand, prostate stimulators have received more attention this year.

And 2023?

I expect companies to make up for what they missed out on in 2022, i.e., more innovation in erotic toys for women and men. Despite the unfulfilled promises that I have stuck to, others predict that people will focus much more on mindfulness in sexuality and open intimacy. Orgasms will be sidelined for a while, and the journey to get there will be much more important, focusing on the moment, on one's own and partner's body. This is also due to the limitations of the corona, the absence of touch and closeness, and the increase in anxiety in that dark period. 

Generation Z already served us last year with a much more open attitude toward sexuality, and this year will be no different. Sex education programs on online platforms and the sale of erotic toys in drugstores and supermarkets (especially abroad, Slovenia is not there yet) are flourishing accordingly.

Medtem med ustvarjalci erotičnih pripomočkov še vedno rastejo apetiti po čim boljših aplikacij za upravljanje igrač. Ta koronska zapuščina danes ni več popularna zaradi možnosti igre na daljavo, temveč, da bi popestrili zabavo med rjuhami. Leto 2023 bo zaznamovala tudi “obogatena resničnost (augumented reality)”. Z njeno pomočjo smo do zdaj preizkušali očala, obleke, zdaj pa bomo videli  še dejansko velikost in obliko erotičnih pripomočkov. 

This year, the butt will also be at the center of attention. Companies are expected to offer more and better toys for prostate massage and anal stimulation. 

I hope that 2023 will be more interesting than 2022 and that I will be standing in front of the shelves again, not knowing which toy to test first. There is a good chance that this will come true, as I have already managed to make a list of the toys that must end up between my legs this year.