Aussie cheating trend we can’t ignore

Cheating might still be seen as the wrong thing to do, but there’s a cheating trend taking off in Australia that proves many are willing to be unfaithful.

Cheating in Australia isn’t just happening. It is widespread, and Millennials are the main culprits.

Body+Soul’s 2024 Sex Census surveyed more than 2000 Australians and found that Aussies aren’t that faithful, with one in three having cheated or considered cheating on their partner.

Five per cent admitted to cheating on their current partner and 15 per cent revealed they’d cheated on a former partner.

Interestingly, Gen Zers are the most faithful generation, with only 16 per cent admitting they’ve ever cheated.

Millennials emerged as the most likely generation to cheat, with 22 per cent admitting they’ve cheated.

Hayley Davies isn’t even slightly surprised that Australia has a cheating habit. Picture: Supplied

The adult entertainer and former stripper says she’s observed men at their least loyal. Picture: Supplied

Almost one in three (29 per cent) Aussies surveyed admitted to cheating with a stranger, while 24 per cent said they were unfaithful with an acquaintance, followed by 23 per cent who said they cheated with a work colleague.

Hayley Davies isn’t even slightly surprised that Australia has a cheating habit because she firmly believes “99 per cent of men would cheat” if given the opportunity.

Ms Davies, who is an adult entertainer and former stripper, said she’s observed men at their least loyal and it has made her certain that cheating is just normal.

Ms Davies said at least 80 per cent of OnlyFans subscribers have girlfriends or wives, yet this doesn’t stop them from interacting with her online.

“It can be so bad. They’ll say ‘I can’t play right because my girlfriend or wife is in the room with me or sitting next to me’,” she told news.com.au.

It isn’t unusual for her subscribers to mention they’ll talk to her after taking their wives for dinner or seeing their girlfriend.

Ms Davies said she thinks cheating has become so common because it is just “so easy”, and men can do it without having to put in much effort.

Gone are the days when men would have to find another woman to wine and dine; these days, they can slide into someone’s direct messages and have a crack or pay to receive personalised porn content online.

“Men do just cheat when given the opportunity, and due to technology and OnlyFans and Instagram and everything, it has just become easier,” Ms Davies said.

The X-rated creator isn’t sure why men cheat, but she thinks it often comes from them seeking out something they aren’t getting from their relationship, whether that is sex or more validation.

“For a lot of them, they just can’t be happy with what they’ve got, and they want more variety,” she said.

She’s noticed some trends with cheaters.

“The men that are very rich and are providing for their wives. They cheat because they hold so much power in their relationship,” Ms Davies said.

She’s also found men who work “long hours” and therefore don’t have the time to connect with their partners tend to cheat out of convenience and because they have the mindset that they work so hard and deserve to let off some steam.

“When I was a stripper, it was high-powered men and tradies. Tradies love to cheat,” she said.

Clinical psychotherapist Jennifer Nurick told Body+Soul many couples have differing views on what they consider cheating.

“I’ve worked with people who strongly feel that their partner looking at porn is a form of cheating. I’ve had others who have felt that keeping secrets is the first step to infidelity,” Ms Nurick said.

“There is no right or wrong answer here. Ultimately a person’s definition of cheating is connected to trust, which flows into their basic security in their relationship.”