Online camming can help men feel more comfortable in their own skin, study suggests

A new study published in PLOS One has found that many men who use adult webcam platforms, often called “camsites,” come away feeling better about their bodies. These interactive spaces, where viewers can chat with or watch live video performances by models, gave some men more comfort and confidence with their physical appearances. The researchers discovered that these online interactions fostered body acceptance in ways that traditional pornography might not.

Men are often overlooked when it comes to conversations about body image, despite growing evidence that many struggle with feelings of discomfort about their bodies. According to a recent national survey, one in three men in the United States are dissatisfied with some aspect of their body, such as muscle size, height, or genitalia. This discomfort can affect their mental well‑being, leading to lower self‑esteem and feelings of depression. In this new study, researchers set out to understand how one popular form of online sexual interaction, called camming, might impact men’s body perceptions.

Camsites are platforms where people can watch adult performers live online. Unlike traditional adult movies, camsites create a space where the audience can interact with performers via text or video. Performers respond in real time, providing viewers with a sense of being seen and acknowledged. The researchers wondered if this interactive environment could lead to feelings of body acceptance, especially for men who are often overlooked in conversations about body image and self‑confidence.

“Challenges related to body satisfaction are widespread and frequently studied, particularly among women,” said study author Jessica Campbell, an assistant research scientist at the Center for Evaluation, Policy, and Research and a research fellow at the Virtual Intimacy, Behavioral Engagement, and Sexuality (VIBES) Collaborative at the Kinsey Institute.

“While U.S. men also demonstrate challenges with body satisfaction, it is comparatively somewhat less frequently studied. This oversight helped to motivate our team’s focus on men’s body comfort. Given our focus on the impact of online erotic camsites, we aimed to bridge these two domains in order to identify technologically mediated pathways that may offer support for body comfort among men.”

To investigate this, the researchers conducted an online survey with 5,828 people using the LiveJasmin site. The participants, primarily heterosexual, cisgender men, were recruited from the site via a banner advertisement. The survey asked questions about their online habits, their comfort with their own bodies, and the role that using the site played in shaping these feelings. Those who felt more comfortable with their bodies as a result of using the site were asked to write about why this was the case.

The researchers analyzed both the numerical data and the open‑ended written responses. They found that about 19% of the men surveyed — or roughly one in five — felt more comfortable with their bodies after using the site. To understand why, the researchers used a qualitative approach called thematic analysis, which allows them to spot common ideas and narratives in people’s responses.

“These results suggest that camsites may function as a unique space for men to explore their bodies and find new forms of acceptance and comfort therein,” Campbell told PsyPost.

Several themes emerged from these open‑ended replies. The biggest factor, mentioned by roughly a quarter of those who felt more comfortable with their bodies, was the feedback they received from the models. These men said that compliments, encouragement, and warm responses from the performers had a significant impact on how they felt about themselves.

Even when the participants were aware that the models were working and possibly being paid to give compliments, many said that hearing the same positive remarks repeatedly made them feel more confident about their bodies. The models’ verbal encouragement, along with their approving gestures and expressions, seemed to help the men accept their own bodies and recognize that attractiveness can take many forms.

Another important factor was the opportunity for self‑disclosure and conversation. A smaller but notable group of participants said that talking openly with the models about their bodies, or about their feelings and fantasies, boosted their sense of comfort. These conversations went beyond superficial compliments and allowed participants to openly share insecurities or questions about their bodies. In doing so, many felt heard and validated in ways that traditional media or online pornography often fail to provide.

Self‑reflection and changes in personal outlook also surfaced as common threads. About 15% of those who felt more comfortable with their bodies said the site offered a space for introspection and a shift in how they viewed themselves. They spoke about accepting their bodies as they are — accepting imperfections as part of being human and realizing that a “perfect body” is a myth. Some responded that seeing others with body shapes and sizes similar to their own boosted their confidence, making them more accepting of their own body and their attractiveness.

The site’s unique feature of allowing viewers to turn on their own camera also appeared to play an important role. Approximately 20% of participants said that exposing themselves, even partially, during private sessions helped build body comfort. The camera acted as a tool for gaining confidence, making men feel seen and accepted in ways that they had not felt before.

The participants explained that knowing the person on the other side of the screen was enjoying their body — regardless of its shape or size — offered a strong counter to internal feelings of inadequacy. In this sense, camming acted as a safe space for intimate exposure, one that promoted feelings of belonging and self‑confidence.

Observing diversity in body types and appearances on the site emerged as another valuable theme. About 4% of those surveyed said that seeing a range of body shapes and sizes — both in the performers and other viewers — helped expand their understanding of beauty and attractiveness. The participants spoke about realizing that no one body shape or size had a monopoly on desirability, making space for self‑acceptance and a more inclusive view of beauty.

“Interestingly, exposure to diverse body types on camsites acted as a source of support for greater bodily comfort,” Campbell said. “Camsite models are diverse in appearance, size, and shape, which likely challenged perceived norms related to what constitutes attractiveness.”

A smaller group, roughly 2% of those responding, said that their experience with the site inspired them to make changes to their appearance. Some started working out or dressing in ways that made them feel more attractive, while others experimented with expressing different sides of themselves, such as trying new styles or exploring gender fluidity. These changes often came with validation from the models, reinforcing the participants’ sense that their efforts were worthwhile and making them feel more confident about their bodies.

Although the results were promising, the researchers emphasized that the study had limitations. The sample was largely composed of heterosexual men, making it unclear if the results apply to a more diverse range of participants. The study also relied on self‑reported feelings of body comfort and didn’t measure how long these effects lasted.

Since only one in five participants felt more comfortable with their body, the results also raise questions about the experience of the majority who didn’t notice a change or didn’t answer the questions at all. In future studies, researchers hope to explore more deeply how different people experience camsites and how these spaces affect perceptions of their bodies across a wider range of demographics.

The study, “The influence of erotic camsites on improving men’s body comfort: A qualitative analysis of mechanisms,” was authored by Amanda N. Gesselman, Ellen M. Kaufman, Jessica T. Campbell, Margaret Bennett-Brown, Melissa Blundell Osorio, Camden Smith, Malia Piazza, and Zoe Moscovici.