‘Sex,’ BBC sitcom star Miranda mutters, in a low, embarrassed mumble. Though this is a TV show, it is not so different from the societal taboo surrounding intimate topics such as sex. Rather unsurprisingly, this stigma has led students to rely on the anonymity offered by university confession pages such as Brumfess and Brumble in order to discuss their burning questions more confidently.

A confession page may not be the best place to seek answers. Those who comment on these posts are not sexual health experts nor doctors, running the risk of incorrect advice being given, or possibly even dissuading someone from booking a much-needed doctor’s appointment. Moreover, these questions regarding sex are often greeted with jokes in the comment section. By associating them within something jovial, this further heightens the taboo surrounding these issues, as well as lessening the chances of people wanting to speak openly about them. Such an environment will likely discourage someone from submitting a question, even anonymously. These concerns surrounding sex are already prevalent today, with The Telegraph reporting how ‘Brits find sex the most challenging topic to talk about.’

Though requests for sex advice via Brumfess are anonymous, they at least begin a discussion about sex. This has been a task the media have been eager to fulfil, with Channel 4 stimulating conversation through documentaries such as ‘Sex in Lockdown’ and ‘Let’s Talk About Sex.’ Netflix have followed suit with the immensely popular Sex Education, following high school student Otis setting up a sex clinic to give advice to his fellow students. Audiences have praised the show’s honest and upfront approach to issues. Pia, 16, from Kent admires this approach, speaking of how they ‘discuss actual sex itself- something many worry about but are too embarrassed to ask about.’

Despite the media’s more open discussion surrounding sex, this has not made a significant change to users relying on the anonymity of a confession page. Some alternatives which stimulate discussion include Umbrella, offering walk-in sex clinics and thus a professional alternative to Brumble. This one-to-one service is surely preferable from posting a Brumble which may get lost within the mass catalogue of confessions posted daily and therefore not answered. An easier step to instigate would be speaking openly with a circle of friends. The discussion must start somewhere, and this could be the first step.

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