The unsexy truth behind reviewing vibrators; thoughtful Mother’s Day gifts; and last-minute flower delivery• Don’t get the Filter delivered to your inbox? Sign up hereWhen people learn that my job as a sexual wellbeing specialist involves reviewing vibrators for the Filter – as their official Vibe Rater, if you will – they assume I’ve got it easy. That my work, in every conceivable way, must be a pleasure. But I get my hands dirty, probing everything from sustainability to sensitive data security to supply chains, to ensure buyers don’t get (non-consensually) shafted. Vibrators are coming out from under the covers. They used to feel shameful and secretive, picked from a mail-order magazine or a poky shop with blacked-out windows; today, we’re infinitely more liberated about toy ownership. We’re putting our hands in our pockets, too: the global sex toy market was valued at approximately $37.5bn last year, and it is projected to climb to $83.85bn within the next decade.But navigating ...
Reviewing vibrators involves more than just personal experience. It includes assessing safety (considering the ISO 3533 standard), sustainability, data security, and supply chains, particularly as the sex toy market expands. Some manufacturers lack expertise, making thorough safety analysis crucial. The best toys result from extensive research and development, with consideration for accessibility for disabled and neurodiverse users.
