Paying for porn should be the post-pandemic 'new normal'

The coronavirus pandemic has seemingly put the world on hold — including porn productions. While the Free Speech Coalition has released preliminary safety guidelines for shoots to restart, they said in their blog post it still may not be safe. Conversely, while producers can't make porn, viewers are watching it in droves: Pornhub's traffic has spiked throughout the pandemic, for example. The demand for porn is, if not at an all-time high, then at least higher than at this point last year.

The Economic Reality for Sex Workers

In many cases, though, that demand doesn't translate into actual dollars for sex workers. Just as millions of people are out of work, so too have porn performers and other sex workers seen income reductions. What's more is that many sex workers are ineligible for unemployment benefits to help stay afloat. Performers are undeniably taking a hit due to the pandemic.

"While porn viewings may increase with people stuck at home, sex workers are suffering in times of social distancing as they don’t rely on a fixed income and are less likely to reap unemployment benefits when out of job," said pornographer Erika Lust. This is why Lust calls for a new normal: paying for your porn.

Industry Trends During the Pandemic

• OnlyFans Usage: Has seen a 75 percent increase in users since the pandemic began.
• Pornhub Traffic: Has spiked throughout the pandemic.
• Independent Income: Sites like OnlyFans are essential to support independent cam girls, performers, and directors.
• Production Status: Producers have had to stop shoots and rely on performers filming themselves.

Why Paying for Content Matters

Lust and her team are on a mission to change how society consumes porn. The reliance on digital entertainment due to the pandemic has highlighted the importance of sex workers' content, according to Lust. By paying for porn, you're not only helping independent productions to continue creating the movies you watch, but you're also ensuring fair working conditions for everyone involved.

"Money is needed to pay performers, crew, post-production, and all freelance collaborators fairly, and to ensure that sex work is done in a safe environment," she explained. Lust believes we should be responsible consumers and support the people that create the entertainment we enjoy.

The Problem with Free Tube Sites

While production lays dormant, tube sites benefit from traffic bumps. According to Erika Lust, "the free tube sites are a very controversial business model that has been profiting from other people’s work, image, bodies, creativity, and talent for the last decade." Many performers find that their films have been stolen and uploaded onto tubes, often with sexist or racist titles with their name nowhere to be seen. Lust notes that "most importantly, neither I nor my guest directors or performers have given consent for having our material there."

Sites like OnlyFans can provide revenue, but these income streams essentially render sex workers gig economy workers, who also miss out on benefits. This highlights why it is vital for the work of sex workers and the importance to pay for porn to be highlighted more within the public in the new normal.