When the birds and the bees conversation gets too awkward or a lingering question about sex is too embarrassing to ask, most people turn to the Internet for answers.
With the safety of being behind a computer screen, the Internet allows for endless curiosity. To assess where the most sexually curious Americans live, sex toy company Peachy analyzed Google search logs for sex-related terms and questions.
Searches ranged from sexual positions to fetishes, and the results were surprising, as the most sexually curious Americans resided in some of the most conservative states.
Peachy chief executive Amy Williams said: “Curiosity about sex is a natural part of being human, especially in places where open discussions about intimacy may still be considered taboo.
“At a time when virtually everyone has access to the Internet, young people can fuel their curiosity about certain topics without the embarrassment of asking potentially unreceptive adults.”
Conservative strongholds dominated the list of states with the most lewd searches, with Utah taking first place for most lewd searches on the Internet with a perfect score of 100.
The state, where about 42 percent of people belong to the Mormon church and 59 percent voted Republican in 2024, was more interested in ‘BDSM, ‘polyamory’ and ‘voyeurism.’
Similar results were seen in other traditionally conservative states, including Nevada and Georgia.
Just as cultural taboos around sexuality in conservative-majority areas can generate online curiosity, more progressive attitudes toward sexuality in liberal-leaning states can do the same.
New York and Washington are also among the five most curious states. Both states are among the most culturally diverse in the country, so Williams wasn’t surprised to see them near the top of the list.
In second place, New York scored 96.12. Williams said this “naturally curious” state enjoys a diverse population and an endless mix of cultural influences that he believes drive openness in all aspects of life, including sexuality.
Nevada took third place, with a score of 90.63. Nevada, home to 3.2 million people, was a battleground state in 2024.
Nevada is often associated with the anything-goes mentality of Las Vegas. However, the State is actually a mix of conservative and liberal ideologies. Sparsely populated but staunchly conservative rural regions cover a significant portion of the state, but most of the population lives in more liberal-leaning cities.
On the one hand, access to sex education could be driving people’s daring pursuits.
Only 36 states and DC require schools to provide sex education to students, and only 26 of those states require the information to be medically accurate.
In Nevada, schools must establish a course on human sexuality. Still, it is not a requirement for graduation and parents must give written consent for their children to participate, so only a fraction of the students They are being educated.
Washington, on the other hand, takes a much more liberal approach to sex education and took fourth place with a score of 87.47.
Evergreen State schools must teach everyone about safe sex; the curriculum must be medically accurate and must include instructions on consent.
However, this does not mean that there are not conservative enclaves in Washington where the most risky searches can come from, according to Williams.
He said: “Even in states with generally progressive attitudes, there can still be disparities in access to education, especially for LGBTQ+ youth.”
The data shows how people look for answers on their own when traditional resources don’t meet their needs, adding that the study highlights the importance of good sexuality education and open conversations.
Georgia took fifth place with a score of 86.27. The southern state has been experiencing demographic and voter turnout shifts for years.
While traditionally known as a Republican stronghold, recent elections have revealed a tighter political race between Republicans and Democrats.
Georgia’s sex education programs primarily teach abstinence as the only safe sexual measure, meaning hundreds of thousands of children in Georgia schools may be missing out on a crucial curriculum.
Ms Williams said: “The data says a lot about how people seek out information for themselves when traditional resources are insufficient.”
“This study reminds us of the importance of comprehensive sexuality education and open conversations.”