What Is ASMR Porn? Here's What You Should Know

Have you seen them yet? Or rather, have you heard them yet? ASMR porn videos, that is. If that doesn’t ring a bell, it’s also called “whisper porn” by some. They’re a fascinating new trend in pornography that combines contemporary porn trends, the power of spoken-word erotica, and a fascinating new discovery in brain science. In order to better understand the appeal of ASMR porn, how it works and more, AskMen spoke to some content creators and erotic audio purveyors about the appeal and experience of erotic ASMR, as well as how to whisper your way to pleasure. What Is ASMR? Before exploring what ASMR porn is, it’s important to establish what ASMR itself is. ASMR is short for autonomous sensory meridian response — which is a scientific way of describing the pleasurable, yet relaxing “tingles” that tend to envelope your head and travel down your neck or back. If you’ve ever gotten “goosebumps” or “chills” from a scene in a movie or book — or even from listening to a speech that really resonates, ASMR is a similar kind of experience. The difference is, ASMR usually induces relaxation instead of anticipation, and because of this, ASMR has become widely regarded by fans as a tool to encourage sleep — or even help ease anxiety by simulating a feeling of connection and being cared for. Healthline.com notes that it’s often associated with sounds like whispering, blowing, tapping, scratching and crinkling, and often videos using ASMR techniques will feature performers speaking very closely into microphones or rubbing objects on them in order to produce certain sound effects. RELATED: The Weird World of Platonic Relationship Services Emerging research about the benefits of ASMR is definitely promising. Still, there’s so much we still don’t understand about ASMR — especially why some people don’t experience it, as well as why the “tingles” or what triggers them can vary from person to person. However, if your mind and ears are open to exploration, ASMR can also amp up your single or coupled sex life in some surprising ways… as fans have discovered. How Is ASMR Porn Different From Regular Porn? There’s a long history of erotic material that’s more focused on audio than visuals, but ASMR isn’t just about hearing your porn — it’s about what, exactly, you’re hearing. “There is truly something for everyone when it comes to erotic audio — that’s the wonderful thing about it being so personal and customizable,” says Jaimee Bell, a producer at erotic audio platform BLOOM. “Erotic audio stories (with or without ASMR techniques) can improve your sexual experience in a variety of different ways.” “People gravitate towards erotic audio content because it’s a truly immersive experience that puts you right in the middle of the action while also letting you experience pleasure on your own terms,” Bell says. “Erotic audio content can do something other forms of storytelling can’t. It can allow the listener to ‘fill in the blanks’ to a certain extent.” So, “when you add ASMR elements and spatial audio techniques to good storytelling,” Bell says, whisper porn can produce  “a super realistic experience.” In other words, whisper porn allows you to viscerally experience any number of hot fantasies, with no partner or hassles required, while the ASMR techniques produce their own strangely pleasing effect on your brain. You want your “girlfriend” to whisper in your ear while she unzips you? Done. You want to experience the ins and outs of a threesome without hassle or risk? It’s totally doable in print — but made even more believable and pleasurable as your brain and ears engage and as you feel the odd ASMR tingles come over you. RELATED: Virtual Reality Porn, Explained And if you’re thinking “but most erotica out there seems like it’s geared towards women,” well, you wouldn’t be wrong — but there’s also no reason for men to feel left out either. As we hear from content creators below, “aural delights” exist for adults of all genders and sexual orientations. What Is ASMR Porn Like? Because it’s still a relatively new concept, you might not realize just how much ASMR porn there is out there. According to Angie Rowntree, founder of Sssh.com, “We have always offered erotic audio stories on Sssh — but since mainstream ASMR exploded in popularity these last few years, we’ve seen a 30% increase in member requests for stories with ASMR elements and for more erotic audio content in general. Fans still seek out regular adult films, but obviously they find the experience of audio erotica powerful enough to where this is really growing as a niche.” Part of its success has to be due to the high quality of the experience. Creators who make erotic ASMR content are adept at not only providing tingle-inducing whispers and mouth-sounds, but also at setting up the scene and conveying the intent, and with no cameras, lighting or make-up to worry about, the barrier for entry is relatively low. Another part of its success may be that it can fulfill different roles for different people. “The benefits of erotic ASMR differ from person to person,” says ASMR Maddy, who creates both SFW ASMR on YouTube and NSFW ASMR on Pornhub. “Some people may use it to feel a deeper, more intimate connection to the performer, almost like a girlfriend experience,” she says. “Others may use it strictly as a tool to orgasm and go to sleep. Neither way is wrong!” She adds: “I definitely look at the erotic ASMR as a tool to orgasm and then fall asleep, while I look at the SFW ASMR as a "white noise" effect for sleep. Both work for different people. My erotic videos are often produced with the intent to make the viewer [climax]; I have yet to hear anyone tell me they use them for something different…” Once the set-up is aced, erotic ASMR (like mainstream ASMR) aspires to make the audience feel a sense of personal connection. “There are certain things that really connect with the listener, such as words or sounds that instantly cause that shiver of arousal,” says John Eros of PleasureTorture.com, which creates both erotic ASMR and guided masturbation content. He explains: “Saying things like 'Good girl,' along with suction sounds are things that would be more commonly heard in the bedroom in person — so hearing them in the audios can instantly create a sense of intimacy for the listener.” RELATED: Most Popular Porn Plots, Ranked As to what the common “triggers” are for erotic ASMR, it seems these really run the gamut depending on the target audience and their fantasy. ASMR Maddy says, “The most common request I get [for my adult ASMR content] is for JOI (jerk off instruction). People love when I do those videos! I don't know if it's my soft voice or calm demeanor, but they seem to like it.” Maddy adds that she also gets plenty of requests for scenarios involving feet or stepmom/stepsister roleplay: “I really try to cater to the most common fetishes.” Bell notes that the raw, sensual power of sound itself can’t be ignored, though: “Of course, listening to your new boyfriend talk about how he wants to dominate you is fun, but when you add in audio techniques that make it sound like he’s moving from one side to the other, whispering in your ear and then standing in front of you, then it becomes a lot more realistic and arousing.” Eros echoes Bell’s sentiments, adding: “The sound of sensual moaning is such a universal trigger because it really helps paint the scenario where men and women alike can fill in the blanks on what is causing that reaction.” How to Introduce Erotic ASMR Into Your Relationship  Watching porn as a couple can be a lot of fun — or totally awkward. But what about listening to porn together? Or simply replicating the experience of ASMR porn by providing your partner with a real-life ASMR JOI experience?  Once again, Eros takes us back to the idea of “intent.” He explains: “What makes great whisper porn is also what makes a great sexual partner — the intent. That same desire a guy has for pleasuring their partner can be brought out in the bedroom by simply describing what you want to do to them, or what you want to see happen to them. Knowing someone lusts for you it so erotic, so gratifying. Using this knowledge, being able to whisper your erotic thoughts to them helps engage their imagination just as much as touching them does.” However, “With no intent, passion, or desire, it's more like a list of actions,” Eros adds, “so you've got to speak as if the words themselves are all that you have at your disposal to get your partner off.” Feeling tongue-tied? No worries. ASMR Maddy says that as long as you and your partner are both on the same page, “Watching erotic ASMR for inspiration and then trying it on each other would be super hot!” RELATED: Never Have I Ever: Watched Porn With My Partner Last year, BLOOM even teamed up with sex tech giant Lovense to allow their users to sync Lovense-compatible toys with stories and pleasure guides; so even if you or your partner are “ASMR immune,” the right toy in the right spot can bring about that happy ending. As more erotic audio content and ASMR appears on porn sites known primarily for video content, it’s not surprising that competition in the audio-only arena is growing too, with the rise of other adult story platforms such as Dipsea, Vibease, and Quinn. Whatever your intent is, and whether you “tingle” or not, it’s hard to argue with having yet another tool to explore your sexuality and take your fantasies up a notch. Whisper those fantasies in your partner’s ear…and you might be waking the neighbors tonight. You Might Also Dig: What People Did Before Internet Porn Best Porn-Watching Accessories The Forgotten History of the Phone Sex Industry