7 people describe what they keep in their ‘spank bank’

May is National Masturbation Month, and we’re celebrating with Feeling Yourself, a series exploring the finer points of self-pleasure.

The earliest definition of is from March 2003. The entry refers to it as “SpankBank” as if it were a Bank of America competitor, and defines it as “the collection of images, thoughts, dreams, and desires one conjures to heighten arousal in order to achieve climax; In regards to Self Gratification/Masturbation.”

Almost two decades later, it’s difficult to conceptualize the world in 2003. For one thing, I was nine years old. But it was society before Facebook (meaning pre-social media as we know) and before the iPhone — but also pre-MindGeek, the and other mainstream tube sites.

While today there are seemingly endless ways to consume porn — from Pornhub to — spank banks are still alive and well and being compiled in all sorts of creative ways. From alt Twitters to an entirely separate device, seven people graciously told me about the digital homes for their masturbation fodder.

The dirty side of Twitter

Multiple people told me about their penchant for keeping alt Twitter accounts solely for the purpose of browsing porn. Here I was, thinking that alt Twitters were just for about people who pissed you off. 

But no — separate, anonymous Twitter accounts are some people’s way of saving porn and following their favorite creators. While three people spoke to me about this on the record, several others also sung the praises of such a Twitter account. 

James, who usually lives in Toronto but is social distancing in their hometown of Sudbury, Ontario along with his family, has had an alt Twitter for two years. He started it as a refuge from Tumblr, which . 

James told me that creating the account was “a reaction to Tumblr very strictly enforcing a no adult content rule, which as a lot of those rules do, affected queer people and sex workers the most, and resulted in most of those profile being flagged or deleted, or their content being hidden.”

James pointed out that if you search on Twitter, many sex workers’ accounts have in their bios. He said he only follows queer creators on his alt, and uses it to masturbate a few times a week — or sometimes everyday “if the mood strikes.”

Ana, a woman in Miami, started her alt Twitter this year. She had been looking up porn on her regular Twitter account but, as she told me, it left her feeling “kinda dirty.” Having a separate account gives her more freedom to deep dive into porn Twitter. 

Oscar, a man in South Asia, told me that Twitter is a newfound love — and we actually corresponded via DM on his account. He’s able to like and retweet content from “dirty accounts,” as he referred to them.

“Masturbating has been a helpful stress reliever.” 

For James, the pandemic hasn’t changed his masturbating habits too much. He usually masturbated early mornings or late nights anyway. “I am very lucky in that I’m able to work from home, so I’m occupied during the day doing that,” he said. “I also am staying with family during this time, and we get along well, so not hiding away when I’m not working.”

Ana, however, said that quarantine had definitely changed her habits, given that masturbation helps her sleep in these stressful times. “Even tho I work from home, work has been a lot more stressful,” she said via Facebook messenger. “So masturbating has been a helpful stress reliever.”

“I browse thru my alt Twitter, find something to watch. And masturbate,” she said. “Then I sleep so well.” 

Oscar also said he’s been masturbating more currently — since he has more free time. 

Masturbating to celebrities and former flings

While alt Twitter accounts are popular, some people are more specific in their spank bank preferences. 

Take Corinna, a woman living in Brussels.