In the digital age, graphic nudity is so ubiquitous that it’s become passé, boring even. But there’s still a final frontier of sexualized content that remains surprising, alluring, and rare: Intimacy.
That’s the impetus behind Playboy’s first cover in the magazine’s post-nudes era. The iconic skin publication chose an Instagram-famous model and a Snapchat-themed pictorial.
“The idea was to look at me from a boyfriend’s perspective,” said model Sarah McDaniel, whose mismatched eyes and sexy selfies propelled her to internet fame.
The move is clearly an attempt to reach younger readers, whose exposure to online nudity and porn from a young age make Playboy’s centerfolds less seductive. Seventy-four percent of the magazine’s subscribers are over 25, according to Playboy via PBS.
Playboy 2.0 hopes to combat the “been there, seen that” attitude of millennials by inviting them into a shoot that feels intimate. The images seem personal, like McDaniels could have sent them to each and every reader. Young people may be used to seeing all manner of erotica online, but a sexy Snapchat from a beautiful girl is still special.
