Industry veterans attribute the drop to a mix of economic pressures, production constraints, and Gen Z’s (alleged) disinterest in on-screen sex. As Masters of Sex creator Michelle Ashford notes, many streamers are instead opting for “vanilla” programming meant to offend no one and appeal to everyone.

Instead, she seeks friction, referencing Kyla Scanlon’s recent interview for The Ezra Klein Show : “There’s value in things being a little bit difficult,” Scanlon said.