Hole on Main

Photography by Steve Marais feat. Raphael Blue
Story "Hole On Main" written by Pedro Vasconcelos
Cape Town, 2024
[Heavy] Feral Magazine, Vol. 1

Project:

A photo essay with a strong written component exploring the online trend of "hole on main," examining the motivations and risks of public digital exhibitionism.

Concept & Development:

This story, written by Pedro Vasconcelos and featuring photography and video of Raphael Blue, moves beyond a single subject to analyse a broader cultural phenomenon. It dissects the complex interplay of desire, validation, shame, and paranoia that drives individuals to post explicit content on public-facing social media. The piece is structured as a personal essay from Vasconcelos, supported by informational sidebars that define the trend and outline the potential consequences.

Execution & Deliverables:

• Format: Photo Essay, Video & Cultural Essay
• Publication: Feral Magazine, Issue 1 (Pages 134-145)
• My Role: Photography, Art Direction, Concept, Video, Layout Design, Editorial Design

What Is "Hole on Main"?

"Hole on main" refers to people who openly post photo and video content of their privates—specifically their hole—on their main, public-facing social media accounts. The trend started gaining traction in the mid-to-late 2010s, particularly among gay men, as social media platforms like X and Instagram became more central to online identities. This also aligns with the rise of online exhibitionism and oversharing. While explicit content has long existed in niche spaces, posting such content directly on mainstream platforms—without anonymity—has become more common among individuals with less conventional views on privacy and shame.

Queer communities have always challenged norms around body and sexuality. Platforms like Twitter, where explicit content is far less regulated, still provide a space for users to push these boundaries even further (for now). That said, it’s not exclusively a gay trend. The concept of publicly sharing explicit content also crosses into other sexual and social subcultures.

Why Are People Doing It?

Simply put, it’s an exhibitionist kink. People are posting “hole on main” because they want to be seen. For many, it’s about the thrill—there’s excitement in showing the most intimate parts of themselves to the world, proudly. For others, shame is the whole point. Humiliation provides an additional layer of arousal. They call it “exposure”, and the risk of being “exposed” adds to the thrill. It signals a boldness that only bridging the boundary of shame can achieve, and there’s a sense of belonging in it. People find validation through this shared experience—it makes them seem cool, so to speak. Posting taboo content gets tons of attention. Likes and comments feel good. Whatever their main motivation, it’s a fetish challenging ideas about what should stay private. 

What Are the Risks?

Every peak has a valley, of course. Obviously, when you post your hole, you’re opening yourself up to criticism and harassment. Once it’s online, it’s out there for good. Think deleting it makes it disappear? Think again. Someone probably saved it. And it’s 100% archived in some database somewhere. Again, some see this as a major benefit. For others, it’s the primary deterrent. Beyond that, colleagues or clients could see it and your reputation might take a dive. Emotionally, you might feel the rush in the moment, but regret can creep in later. Sometimes even much later. They say first impressions last. Down the line, you could be perceived as just a sex object instead of the multifaceted, multi-talented, emotionally complex being that you are. The attention you get might not have the eventual outcome you expected. Don’t forget, revenge porn and exploitation are real. Once it’s out there, you lose control of how it’s used. But hey, if you’re already considering it, none of this is news to you, right?

Why Go All In?

If you feel compelled to do it but haven’t started yet, who are we to stop you? It’s our job to point out the facts, and if we didn’t at least try to motivate you, we wouldn’t be feral, now, would we? Your hole is yours to share. Posting it—and/or your other goodies—with your face, shows you have balls. And if it’s going to be out there, why not let it be on your terms? Plus, it’s really hot. By not worrying about your data being tracked, you take full control. And seriously, don’t be a coward. Faceless content is boring. If you’re gonna do it at all, at least go all in. Make it personal. Your beautiful face makes the risk more real. Seriously, people want to connect with the whole you, not just your hole. Sure, some might judge, but it’s up to you to decide how much their opinions really matter. And if it gets shared? Even better—let leaking it be the goal. In the end, it’s your choice. Just make sure you tag @heavyferal across all platforms. 

"Having a scanner is great, because then you can measure 'it' objectively."

Hole on Main

Photography by Steve Marais feat. Raphael Blue
Story "Hole On Main" written by Pedro Vasconcelos
Cape Town, 2024
[Heavy] Feral Magazine, Vol. 1

Project:

A photo essay with a strong written component exploring the online trend of "hole on main," examining the motivations and risks of public digital exhibitionism.

Concept & Development:

This story, written by Pedro Vasconcelos and featuring photography and video of Raphael Blue, moves beyond a single subject to analyse a broader cultural phenomenon. It dissects the complex interplay of desire, validation, shame, and paranoia that drives individuals to post explicit content on public-facing social media. The piece is structured as a personal essay from Vasconcelos, supported by informational sidebars that define the trend and outline the potential consequences.

Execution & Deliverables:

• Format: Photo Essay, Video & Cultural Essay
• Publication: Feral Magazine, Issue 1 (Pages 134-145)
• My Role: Photography, Art Direction, Concept, Video, Layout Design, Editorial Design

What Is "Hole on Main"?

"Hole on main" refers to people who openly post photo and video content of their privates—specifically their hole—on their main, public-facing social media accounts. The trend started gaining traction in the mid-to-late 2010s, particularly among gay men, as social media platforms like X and Instagram became more central to online identities. This also aligns with the rise of online exhibitionism and oversharing. While explicit content has long existed in niche spaces, posting such content directly on mainstream platforms—without anonymity—has become more common among individuals with less conventional views on privacy and shame.

Queer communities have always challenged norms around body and sexuality. Platforms like Twitter, where explicit content is far less regulated, still provide a space for users to push these boundaries even further (for now). That said, it’s not exclusively a gay trend. The concept of publicly sharing explicit content also crosses into other sexual and social subcultures.

Why Are People Doing It?

Simply put, it’s an exhibitionist kink. People are posting “hole on main” because they want to be seen. For many, it’s about the thrill—there’s excitement in showing the most intimate parts of themselves to the world, proudly. For others, shame is the whole point. Humiliation provides an additional layer of arousal. They call it “exposure”, and the risk of being “exposed” adds to the thrill. It signals a boldness that only bridging the boundary of shame can achieve, and there’s a sense of belonging in it. People find validation through this shared experience—it makes them seem cool, so to speak. Posting taboo content gets tons of attention. Likes and comments feel good. Whatever their main motivation, it’s a fetish challenging ideas about what should stay private. 

What Are the Risks?

Every peak has a valley, of course. Obviously, when you post your hole, you’re opening yourself up to criticism and harassment. Once it’s online, it’s out there for good. Think deleting it makes it disappear? Think again. Someone probably saved it. And it’s 100% archived in some database somewhere. Again, some see this as a major benefit. For others, it’s the primary deterrent. Beyond that, colleagues or clients could see it and your reputation might take a dive. Emotionally, you might feel the rush in the moment, but regret can creep in later. Sometimes even much later. They say first impressions last. Down the line, you could be perceived as just a sex object instead of the multifaceted, multi-talented, emotionally complex being that you are. The attention you get might not have the eventual outcome you expected. Don’t forget, revenge porn and exploitation are real. Once it’s out there, you lose control of how it’s used. But hey, if you’re already considering it, none of this is news to you, right?

Why Go All In?

If you feel compelled to do it but haven’t started yet, who are we to stop you? It’s our job to point out the facts, and if we didn’t at least try to motivate you, we wouldn’t be feral, now, would we? Your hole is yours to share. Posting it—and/or your other goodies—with your face, shows you have balls. And if it’s going to be out there, why not let it be on your terms? Plus, it’s really hot. By not worrying about your data being tracked, you take full control. And seriously, don’t be a coward. Faceless content is boring. If you’re gonna do it at all, at least go all in. Make it personal. Your beautiful face makes the risk more real. Seriously, people want to connect with the whole you, not just your hole. Sure, some might judge, but it’s up to you to decide how much their opinions really matter. And if it gets shared? Even better—let leaking it be the goal. In the end, it’s your choice. Just make sure you tag @heavyferal across all platforms.