New data from Pornhub: Erotica with trans people is mainly watched by older people. Why are they the ones who like porn porn?
The visibility of trans people is growing today. But along with it, the tensions that surround it. While laws restricting their rights are emerging in some countries and the public debate is increasingly escalating, the online environment tells a different story. One that takes place off camera, without commentary and without political slogans.
New Pornhub data released to mark Transgender Day of Visibility 2026 shows that interest in trans content remains steadily high, and in some groups is even surprisingly growing. Because in private, people are watching something very different than what they are willing to admit outwardly.
Unexpected viewers: who watches trans content most often
One of the most striking findings of this year's report is the age structure of users. In fact, it is not the younger generation that is showing the biggest increase in interest, but people aged 65 and over. They are 21% more likely to view trans porn than other age groups, according to the data.
At first glance, this seems paradoxical. It is the older generation that is often associated with more conservative attitudes towards gender and sexuality. But the figures suggest that the reality is much more complex. Sexuality does not work like a political opinion - it is not guided by what one declares, but by what one actually feels.
Differences also emerge between the sexes. Men watch trans content about 8% more often than women. But even here the difference is not dramatic, but rather a confirmation that interest in this type of content is not exclusively a male thing, as is often stereotyped.
Geography of desire: where trans content is most popular
Pornhub also traditionally publishes geographic data showing where interest in trans content is highest. Within the United States, Alaska leads the way this year, with users 28% more likely to view this type of video than the national average.
Globally, Italy dominates for the second year in a row. This is followed by Uruguay and the United Kingdom, where trans content is even 72% more likely to be viewed than elsewhere.
These figures show that interest in trans issues is not limited to one cultural or geographical bubble. On the contrary, it is a phenomenon that permeates different societies, regardless of their stated values or political situation.
Trans performers as stars of digital culture
In addition to anonymous statistics, the report provides a glimpse of the specific names that dominate this category. The most popular trans performer is Emma Rose, who holds the top spot for the second year in a row. Other prominent figures include Eva Maxim, Ariel Demure and Daisy Taylor.
This is an important shift. Trans people are no longer just a 'category' within these platforms, but are becoming fully-fledged creators with their own brand, audience and influence. Digital erotica is thus, to some extent, overtaking mainstream culture.
Today's paradox: public rejection vs. private fascination
Perhaps the most interesting thing about the whole report is not the specific number, but the image that emerges from it. While in the public space trans people are often the subject of controversy, regulation or outright rejection, in private they remain objects of interest, curiosity and desire.
This contradiction is not new, but it has deepened in recent years. Social networks, algorithms and political communication often reinforce conflicting narratives, while people's individual experience remains much less clear.
Pornhub data thus indirectly shows something that society does not like to admit: that what is publicly stigmatized can also be intensely sought after.
But it's important to add that Pornhub Insights is not classic scientific research. The platform doesn't work with transparent methodology to the same extent as academic studies, and its demographic data has its limitations, such as its simplistic breakdown of users.
But that doesn't mean they are worthless. Rather, they need to be read as a probe into the behaviour of a particular digital community, not as a definitive picture of society as a whole.
Visibility that is not just symbolic
Transgender Day of Visibility is meant to commemorate the existence and experience of trans people above all. But this year's data adds another layer to that - showing that visibility is not just about representation in media or politics, but also about what happens outside of public view.
And it's there - in private, without the pressure of the environment - that reality often emerges more openly than how society presents it outwardly. Perhaps that is why this year's visibility is not just a celebration. Rather, it's more like a mirror.
