This is the highest ranking of a porn site among EU member states. The top porn site, which receives over 25 million visits per month, is one of three others to appear in Cypriot browsers' top This week it ranked ahead of Protathlima. It is the 48th most popular site globally, and the 28th in Europe, making Cypriots' use of the site above the global average. Social networking and sport sites also feature in the top 20, which is led by Google, YouTube and Facebook.
Europe's least interested porn browsers are Hungarians, who have no porn sites in their top 50, and Bulgaria whose most popular adult site is in 40th place. All of the porn sites that feature in the top 50 lists for European countries are accessed for free and do not require visitors to log any details. The site allows users to upload their own videos, much like YouTube.
Cyprus has signed and ratified the EU laws regarding pornographic and adult material, and it remains illegal to sell adult material in areas where minors may be present, such as kiosks.
It seems that the tighter the laws on the sale and distribution of porn, the more likely people are to look online. This is supported by the example of Italy, which comprises 12 per cent of the top porn site's visitors, and where it is technically illegal to produce and distribute porn. Conversely, only 0.
Dr George Georgiou PhD, a clinical sexologist, explains that this trend stems from cultural attitudes towards sex. These websites are popular because they are often the only way for people to satisfy their sexual fantasies without shocking their partners," he said. Asked what the implications are for such a trend, Georgiou said: "On the one hand, this is a safe outlet for people to explore their sexuality in a non-exploitative and private way.
