How the pandemic has changed sex work, for better and for worse

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COVID-19 has changed almost every industry, and sex work is no different. Over the last two years, how sex workers operate and where clients can access sex or sexual content has dramatically shifted.

On one hand, it’s paved the way for online sex work, especially subscription platforms like OnlyFans. On the other, it’s been very hard for sex workers who operate in person to make money, and the pandemic has increased their safety risks.

Here’s more information about how the industry has been impacted by the pandemic, how sex workers can continue to operate, and how people can support sex workers at this difficult time.

Transition to digital

Before the pandemic, virtual sex work was starting to become more and more common. But once lockdowns started happening, the trend exploded.

The demand for online sex work has increased. At the beginning of 2020, there were 20 million people signed up to pay for content on OnlyFans. By November of 2020, the site had 120 million users. Revenue from the company grew by 553% during that year, and users spent £1.7 billion ($2.36 billion) on the site.

One of the benefits of sex work moving online is the accessibility. Many clients are much more likely to pay for a model’s subscription service than seek out an in-person sex worker. That means that more people are paying for their sexual content instead of streaming it from sites that steal clips from models.

OnlyFans reported a 75% increase in new signups for models in early April of 2020, just as many people were losing their jobs. The industry exploded across a great number of sex-based websites, making it even more enticing for new sex workers to sign up.

Sex workers who joined these sites during the pandemic are excited about how much money they can make. Some models can draw in hundreds of thousands of dollars a year simply by posting lewd or nude photos or spending time on a webcam. This is an exciting new opportunity for new workers to try out the industry and explore.

Working online as a sex worker is much safer than operating an IRL business. While there are still risks, like getting doxxed or harassed, models are much safer behind a screen than on the street. Overall, being a sex worker has turned into a much more lucrative business or side hustle than ever before.

Some models who are included in the increase were already working as in-person sex workers before the pandemic. They were driven online due to difficulties in performing their jobs while the risk for contracting COVID-19 was high. Unfortunately, not everyone can make this transition.

Many models who were already working online are spending more time on their platforms than ever before. During one month of 2020, researchers found a 22% increase in models’ streaming hours on a popular camming website. For some sex workers, this is because they’re seeing an increase in customer demand and want to make more money. For others, they’re dealing with increased competition and are seeing their viewership go down.

Overall, it’s a great sign to see so many sex workers feeling empowered by starting their own businesses online. However, some people are being left behind in the new digital industry.

Migrating online isn’t easy

If someone was an in-person sex worker at the beginning of the pandemic, it may seem like a no brainer for them to go into online sex work. Since the industry is booming, it’s the best time, right? 

Unfortunately, it’s not as easy as it sounds, and there are many barriers that keep IRL sex workers from accessing this piece of the pie.

First, these models need access to an internet connection. These services aren’t cheap and aren’t accessible for everyone. You’ll also need some equipment to get started like a webcam and reliable computer.

These aren’t the only expenses associated with being an online sex worker. If you don’t want to be fully nude, you’ll need lots of bras, underwear, and swimsuits to change up your look. You can’t look the same in all of your photos! Models also usually need makeup, props, and lighting to achieve great photos or videos.

Perhaps the most difficult hurdle for potential online sex workers to overcome is the need for a dedicated place to shoot content. If you have a large bedroom, you might be able to dedicate part of it for your studio, but many sex workers use an extra room for making videos or taking photos. Someone who has a low income very rarely has this much space to dedicate to their craft, and that’s not even counting unhoused people.

In addition, it’s very difficult to start working as an online sex worker if you don’t have an existing social media presence. You need to have a place to promote yourself or you won’t find subscribers, viewers, or buyers. Establishing an online presence with lots of followers can take months or even years, so starting an online sex work business isn’t an easy endeavor. Plus, even once you have the accounts, you need to know how to operate them in the best way to find new customers, and that’s difficult.

When you start a new business, you know that it might take a while for your income to get back to the level you had previously. Some people are able to take the hit and dip into their savings to make their endeavor possible. However, some sex workers simply can’t afford a reduction in their income while they invest in their new online business.

Online sex work is a revolutionary part of the industry, and it’s done a great job normalizing sex work to the general population. However, we have to remember that a lot of sex workers don’t have access to it and need to continue working in person, even during the health risks of the pandemic.

Risks to sex workers

Some sex workers have continued to work in person during the worst parts of the pandemic, even when brothels and strip clubs have closed. If they have existing clients, they need to keep them, especially if they insist on meeting.

Experts have found that some of the risks to in-person sex workers during the pandemic include:

  • COVID-19 infection during intimate sexual contact
  • Food insecurity, housing instability, and houselessness owing to lost income
  • Lost income due to lack of eligibility for government relief programs
  • Decreased access to physical and mental health services due to reduced services and fear of mistreatment
  • Increased risk of violence from seeing clients in unvetted spaces like hotels due to financial need, housing instability, and sex work venue closure
  • Increased health risks from engaging in sexual practices that would otherwise be refused (like condomless sex) due to financial nee

These risks often intersect with sexism, racism, transphobia, classism, and other forms of oppression. The most vulnerable sex workers are the ones who are suffering the most during COVID-19.

How to support sex workers during the pandemic

The pandemic isn’t over yet, and sex workers still need support. Here are some ways to improve the lives of sex workers, both online and in-person.

Pay for your porn
The vast majority of people watch porn. In one study, 73% of women and 98% of men reported internet porn use in the last six months, for a total of 85% of all participants. When asked about porn consumption in the past week, 80% of men and 26% of women said they’d watched it.

We all know that it’s pretty easy to find free porn on the internet. However, very little of it is ethically obtained, as sites like PornHub and RedTube regularly steal and repost clips from models who never gave their consent. Torrenting is also stealing the content from vulnerable creators.

It’s time to pay for your porn! You can watch a webcam or subscribe to a few OnlyFans accounts for quite cheap, and you’ll also get more quality content that you can tailor specifically to your interests.

Tip well
Whether you’re meeting a sex worker in person or watching them on the internet, it’s always nice to tip them. It can be hard for sex workers to make ends meet, and when you have the funds, you should be giving them to your sex worker who’s doing a service for you.

Use protection
If you’ll be meeting a sex worker in person, you should always be prepared to use the proper protection. In many cases, this means using condoms or dental dams. During the pandemic, it also means taking precautions to reduce the spread of the virus.

Ultimately, listen to the sex worker’s boundaries. They might want you to wear a mask, wash your hands, or avoid kissing and oral sex. Respect their need for safety.

Reduce stigma
The next few points are things that you can do whether you use sex work services or not. There’s a huge stigma surrounding sex workers, and it’s important to dispel this bias whenever possible. You can inform people about the right terms to use (like sex worker instead of pr*stitute) and stop friends from making sex workers the butt of the joke. You can also dismantle your own misconceptions about sex workers by following sex workers on social media, reading literature, and doing your own research.

Donate to sex worker relief programs
Most federal governments have not given sex workers any aid during COVID-19. For this reason, many organizations have set up sex worker relief funds that will give money to those who need it.

The Global Network for Sex Work Projects has made a list of relief programs for sex workers divided by country. Some countries like the United States have a fairly long selection so you can choose the fund that resonates with you the most.

Work towards decriminalization
Decriminalizing sex work is considered the best option for most people in the industry. You can talk to your local representatives or work in your local community to keep sex workers safe. When you see information about decriminalization on social media, you can share it to your audience.

Tips for sex workers during the pandemic

This is a difficult time to be a sex worker. Whether you work in-person or online, here are some ways you can protect your physical safety and your mental health.

Check in with regulars
In-person sex workers can benefit from reaching out to their regulars during this time. If you don’t feel comfortable meeting with them in person, you might be able to negotiate another arrangement. Clients may be interested in paying for nudes, explicit texts, or phone sex sessions. Plus, if you need to meet up in person, it’s better to see people that you already know and trust who will keep your safety in mind.

Be clear with boundaries
Everyone has their own boundaries when it comes to sex work, and they have likely increased during the pandemic. Before you agree to meet up with someone in person, let them know the rules for the encounter. You need to make sure that your safety from getting sick is prioritized by your client.

Use protection and sanitize
It’s more important than ever to practice safe sex. Some tips to keep yourself safe from the virus include: 

  • Avoiding sex that involves saliva, including kissing
  • Washing your hands and face with soapy water before and after sex
  • Showering before and after sex
  • Having sex that reduces bodily contact (mutual masturbation or BDSM from a distance)
  • Wearing a condom or using a dental dam
  • Not sharing sex toys
  • Being careful with hand sanitizer (don’t use it on your genitals!)

In addition, it definitely helps to limit the number of clients you see in person. Some sex workers might be able to make some money doing sex work online while continuing to do some IRL work.

Practice a work/life balance
Online sex workers may feel pressure to create content constantly. It always feels like you need to take another pic, make another video, or spend another hour camming. However, you need to do what’s best for your mental health, which can often mean stepping back and taking a break. This will keep you from burning out.

Online sex work has increased during the pandemic, causing a flurry of new clients. It’s a great opportunity for the industry to go mainstream and eliminate stigma. However, many sex workers who operate in person are left out of the equation. Whether you’re a sex worker or a client, you’ll need to work to adapt to this changing world and work to build a better industry in the future.