Bating is a worldwide phenomenon. This growing subculture embraces the act of mutual and communal masturbation as sex. From online circle jerks in bedrooms to in-person bate clubs, the shift has begun. Bator Sex showcases the richness of this movement: Camaraderie becomes intimacy. Sex is playful and unrushed. A journey of self-discovery.

During lock-down, an enlightened Reddit user created the GayZoom subreddit. Thousands of horny, locked up people, with Zoom newly installed in their computers, started hosting 45-minute Zoom rooms where up to 100 users could join and jerk off together at a time. It spread like wildfire. Word of mouth has kept the community steadily growing since 2020.

Online shared masturbation is not new. Since the early days of IRC and dial-up internet, people have found ways to jerk off with others. But, bate culture as we know it seems to have developed on web cam sites like MenNation (1996), Dudesnude (2002), BateWorld (2009) during the last 15 years.

It’s important to note there have been active jack-off clubs since the 1980’s, most notably the legendary New York Jacks. Spaces started as acts of resistance against the AIDS epidemic.

However, Bator culture is born from technology and the commodification of sex. A byproduct of universal access to webcams, identity politics and sexual exploration.

Bator Sex will focus on this thriving online subculture and how it’s expanding into physical spaces to form tight knit communities.

Online bating allows queer sexual exploration even to those in situations where it might be restricted or dangerous. It allows us to connect, share experiences and make friendships. They may start as a webcam chat and then continue on Skype, Twitter, Telegram, or even face-to-face.

Bate culture is counter-culture. In-between bate sessions, we realised that these practices of camaraderie and sexual awareness were a catalyst for healing and growth. That’s what led us here, to the Bator Sex Series.