Is the iPhone a sex toy? Mindy Seu questions our erotic relationship with the internet

Mindy Seu, creator of the cyberfeminism index, designer, researcher, and educator, introduced us to her work 'A Sexual History of the Internet' on the Nicer Tuesdays stage in Los Angeles. This work is a performance piece compiling our erotic relationship with the visual sexual history of the internet. Her talk was accompanied by an interactive slideshow via Are.na, and topics such as teledildonics, cybersex, and new ways of revenue sharing among creators were discussed.

In her presentation, Seu questioned how everyday technologies like the iPhone could actually function as sex toys. She emphasized the erotic potential of the internet and the transformation of privacy in the digital age. Teledildonics, which are remotely controlled sex toys, represent the physical dimension of cybersex. Seu explained how these technologies reshape human relationships and sexuality.

Additionally, she touched upon the economic challenges creators face while producing content on digital platforms. She proposed alternative models to current systems where revenue sharing is unfair. The Are.na platform was presented as a tool for such collaborative and transparent sharing. Seu envisioned a future where artists and designers can earn income more fairly from their digital works.

The cyberfeminism index is an archival project documenting the role of women and queer individuals in the history of the internet. Through this project, Seu questions the gendered structures of technology and aims to write an alternative digital history. In this context, 'A Sexual History of the Internet' sheds light on the intertwined history of the internet and sexuality.

Finally, Seu's performance invited the audience to question their own digital habits. Is the intimate relationship we have with our phones actually a form of cybersex? This question echoed in the minds of the participants throughout the event. Seu initiated a new dialogue at the intersection of technology and sexuality.