Professor warns that shows like 'Game of Thrones' lead to lowered sex drive

Addictive shows may be more pleasurable than sex for some.
 By 
Heather Dockray
 on 
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Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

Sex and television: two of nature's greatest pleasures, each competing for our limited and miserable attention.  

According to Professor David Spiegelhalter, a Cambridge University statistician, couples in Britain are having 40 percent less sex than they did 20 years ago. Researchers previously warned that a rise in devices like iPads make it harder for people to ever be bored, or have sex. But Spiegelhalter claims that the problem has gotten even more toxic over the years -- and addictive shows like Game of Thrones are to blame.

"The point is that this massive connectivity, the constant checking of our phones compared to just a few years ago when TV closed down at 10:30 p.m. or whatever and there was nothing else to do," Professor Spiegelhalter recently said at the Hay Festival. "Even power cuts which helps. Now people are having less sex and it’s true."


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At this rate, Spiegeilhalter claims, British couples will have no sex by 2030. Spiegelhallter even specifically called out Game of Thrones

"One of the researchers mentioned the word iPad. I think it’s the box set, Netflix: ‘OMG, I’ve got to watch the entire second series of Game of Thrones,'" the professor warned. 

In 1990, British couples were having sex approximately five times per month. The rate went down to four times a month in 2000, and three times in 2010, Spiegalhalter claimed.

Hope remains. There are a long line of activities that compete with the pleasure of sex -- eating chocolate, going sky-diving, cleaning your house -- but people are still doin' it.

And Game of Thrones could easily make a wonderful role play. Anyone up for a round of 'Game of Thongs?'

Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.


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Heather Dockray

Heather was the Web Trends reporter at Mashable NYC. Prior to joining Mashable, Heather wrote regularly for UPROXX and GOOD Magazine, was published in The Daily Dot and VICE, and had her work featured in Entertainment Weekly, Jezebel, Mic, and Gawker. She loves small terrible dogs and responsible driving. Follow her on Twitter @wear_a_helmet.

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