Tan line porn is a thing – and worryingly, it’s making a comeback

A “niche” genre of adult content that hasn’t been popular in decades is making a comeback – sparking fresh fears over a “dangerous” trend.

A popular reality star has exposed a “niche” porn genre most didn’t know existed – sparking fresh fears over a “dangerous” body trend.

Carl Radke, an original member of the Summer House contingent, revealed in a recent episode of the cult reality show that he has a thing for tan lines.

While his porn preference is considered pretty vanilla when compared to the wide-range of fetish categories available, Radke’s admission left many shocked as some warned of its harmful messaging.

The porn bombshell was dropped when West Wilson, one of Radke’s co-stars, asked him and fellow housemate Jesse Solomon what “weird” adult content they enjoy the most.

After a bit of banter between the men, Radke declared: “I had a thing where I just searched tan lines. I like tan line porn.”

You can watch the full exchange below

Since the moment aired on Binge, which has the rights to most Bravo shows in Australia, the internet has been having a field day.

“Legit, had no idea tan lines was a porn-category,” one wrote on TikTok.

“Of all the filthy ways that could have gone, I was not expecting that,” said another.

As one declared: “Had no idea this was a thing, tan lines are painful.”

Tan lines are formed after too much exposure to harsh UVA levels, but experts warn that even mild sunburn can cause permanent skin damage and may increase your risk of skin cancer.

A staggering two in three Australians will get skin cancer in their lifetime due to the harsh UVA levels in our country. These are the highest rates in the world.

Sun safety advocates have been working tirelessly to prevent the glamorisation of tan lines for decades, but it has seen a resurgence in recent months on social media as Gen Z take part in the worrying “#sunburnttanlines” trend.

A recent TV moment has exposed a porn trend most people ‘had no idea’ existed. Picture: Supplied

Many of the clips show young women wearing tiny bikinis with angry red skin, while other videos contain tutorials on how to “rawdog” in the sun.

Despite hugely successful awareness campaigns, including Australia’s “Slip, Slop, Slap” crusade which has become ingrained in our culture, there are still an alarming number of people who view tan lines as “sexy”.

Tan line porn is a next-level take on tanning culture as it is sexual content that features women with strong tan lines.

Alarmingly, it is currently rising in popularity, according to a recent report by Vice.

“The tan line is imbued with meaning: a mark of leisure, a memory of a bikini, and a suggestion of the things that remain hidden,” its author wrote.

“But despite waning in popularity since peaking in the 80s and 90s, tan lines remain an iconic, erotic symbol – and according to new data, tan lines’ sexual power is undergoing a revival.”

Tan line porn is a thing – and worryingly, it’s making a comeback. Picture: Supplied

Tan line porn is a thing – and worryingly, it’s making a comeback. Picture: Supplied

In fact, it is so popular, a Reddit group dedicated to the porn genre currently boasts over 650,000 members.

The subreddit, which has been around for 13 years, is filled with nude images flaunting the controversial lines.

Most worryingly though, it has more than quadrupled in membership size in the last four years, the publication added.

Whether or not porn is a healthy element of someone’s sex life depends on how it’s used, experts state.

Some argue moderate and recreational viewing can be beneficial, and help form different sexual interests, potentially improving sexual satisfaction, while others note excessive use can cause issues in relationships and become problematic.

These concerns have only been enhanced by the improvements in technology, which have spawned alarming new porn trends such as deepfake videos and VR headsets that some claim are “highly addictive”.

Those who consume tan line porn have explained the reason it turns them on is because it shows off “the best part” of the female body hidden by clothing.

“It’s like a highlighter for the good parts,” one crudely commented on social media.

But as one perfectly surmised: “Tan lines are dangerous. Aren’t there better ways to get off?”

Originally published as Tan line porn is a thing – and worryingly, it’s making a comeback