Relationships2 min(s) read
Published 10:59 15 Jul 2026 GMT
Disturbing 'Gooning' sex trend is dominating Google searches in 2026 - Doctors have warned against it
Google plays host to billions of queries everyday, but there is one sex trend that has been dominating Gen Z’s use of the search engine, and it makes for slightly disturbing viewing.
The act of “Gooning” may sound like the verb for an Arsenal fan watching their team, but it actually refers to a particular sex act.
The term was one of 2025’s most-searched words, and its popularity has continued into this year.
Our Google search histories frequently offer a picture of our streams of consciousness, with some of the contents not fit for public consumption, with some queries in particular being embarrassingly intimate.
What is 'Gooning'?
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“Gooning” is the terminology used to describe masturbating until you’re about to reach climax before stopping in order to prolong the feeling, consequently attaining a more powerful and intense orgasm — a technique that people may know more broadly as “edging” when masturbating.
This Gen Z-loved concept, while offering a spike in arousal, is believed to be detrimental to your health, with experts advising that it is avoided.
Sex and health experts warn against it
Dr Paula Hall, a health and sex expert, discussed the potential implications of such a sex trend with the Daily Mail, citing both erectile dysfunction and unsatisfactory sex as potential outcomes.
Dr Hall warned: “If we keep repeating any behavior it gets more habituated. Your brain is undoubtedly becoming more habituated to that behavior and the more it’s repeated, the more likely you are to struggle to stop and enjoy other activities.
"We know that people with compulsive sexual behaviors tend to struggle with erectile dysfunction," Dr Hall added.
Dr Richard Viney, another sexual health expert, discussed that gooning can actually lead to 'desensitizing the individual to real sexual encounters', providing another warning for erectile dysfunction.
Dr Viney added that gooning is a “vicious cycle”, and can often lead to “performance anxiety, making the sexual issues more embedded.”