Influenced by Brian Boxer Wachler MD

Author:Brian Boxer Wachler MD
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Published: 2022-07-21T00:00:00+00:00

ENTER—THE SEX WORKERS

As the worlds of big-screen, VHS, and DVD porn films faded, the content diffused into the digital universe. The roles of sex workers evolved with the simple shift in content delivery method. Many of them have created their own interactive websites, thereby cutting out the producers, directors, and camera crews, which means 100 percent content control, improved personal safety, and more lucrative financial rewards for the performers without concern of being exploited by filmmakers or pirating because the activities are being recorded live. These webcam “girls” and “guys” can livestream (or photograph selfies) at home with just a mobile phone, so the costs to the content creator are negligible.

A significant number of professional sex workers—or amateurs— have realized they can get a much wider mainstream audience venturing into the world of social media and use their influence for advanced marketing: lead generation. When they post on traditional social media sites, such as Instagram, they seem more legitimate, as the distinctions between sultry model and porn entertainer become fuzzy. The freedom, luxury, and privacy of this new entrepreneurial model typically makes this a better lifestyle for them all around. One sex worker said, “At least I’m not waiting tables.” (Ironically, some servers say, “At least I’m not doing porn.”) Some sex workers consider their trade a path for female empowerment, entrepreneurship, and upward mobility. You might not want to view powerful entrepreneurs in the sex industry with disdain, as they might be “laughing all the way to the bank.” And the more exposure they get on social media, the more appealing they become as product pitch people and opportunities arise for them to monetize it by selling merch, such as sex toys.7 Even mainstream celebrity influencers, such as singer/actress Lily Allen and model/actress Cara Delevingne, have entered the adult novelty product arena.

Lena the Plug started out in the traditional porn industry but shifted over to social media and now boasts multimillions of followers on Instagram and YouTube. It shouldn’t be surprising that she has created a successful business; she is a college graduate of the University of California, Santa Cruz, with a degree in psychology. Her business deploys social media influence to feed her base of subscription customers who pay for exclusive content.8

There are thousands of other influencers and content creators on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok who straddle the fence when it comes to modeling and acting versus porn. Many selfies and seductive poses leave little to the imagination, except perhaps covered nipples, pubic hair, and other visuals that might violate the platform’s community guidelines. Some influencer photos and videos entice viewers—known as thirst traps—which can include individuals striking seductive poses baring skin or dressed in minimalist outfits. In others, the thirst trapper teases and leers at the thirst “trappee.” Why post a thirst trap? The reasons include seeking attention, temporarily pumping up self-esteem, adding new followers, wanting a catharsis during a stressful time, or promoting personal branding. Most often, the thirst trapper implies, like a person in a bar waving a hand in the air who announces, “Dopamine for everyone here, it’s on the house.

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