Tech Is Blurring The Lines Of Porn

I remember being 18 and seriously considering a career in porn. Porn stars were the people I lowkey looked up to in college. Honestly, I still look up to them today for their sex-positive badassery. But, 10 years ago, I was a lot shyer and things were very different when it came to being able to access the industry. 

Back then, porn was something that was way more inaccessible. For most people, the thought of ever holding a conversation with one of the girls on the DVD boxes was a pipe dream. They were just these glamorous individuals who played out the sexual fantasies that people often wished they could join. 

Camming was a little different. No one really talked about it as much. There wasn’t as much of a community as there was around it, and there was a very real stigma. Camgirls were not seen as a force in the adult community---not in the way they are now.

Fast forward 10-ish years, and boy, have I seen changes. I started seeing the changes when I did interviews with adult film stars a couple of years ago. Adult film stars were easy to reach via social media, and they were so open to connecting with others. Camgirls, too, had that same awesome willingness to talk to fans. 

But, the changes didn’t stop there. 

Never in the history of the adult film industry have both porn stars and models taken so much time to market themselves. I see it everywhere, especially now that I work for CamBased, a new platform that acts as an ecommerce site, social media management site, and advertising platform. 

What I’ve Witnessed

My new role got me a closer look at the adult film industry as well as the camming industry. Let me tell you, the lines are blurred. On both ends of the spectrum, models are busy advertising themselves and answering their own fan inquiries. And, it's all about offering a new level of intimacy to fans.

When they advertise, they do so with a newfound focus on tech. I can’t name how often I’ve heard models and managers alike ask about CamBased’s analytics, how we’re going to promote models, and other similar facets. It’s a new trend that shows porn’s new transition to a techier world.

Tech also started to change viewer expectations. In most cases, viewers are no longer satisfied with simply buying pictures, either. The only way to keep fandom up is to offer a decent amount of interaction, a more intimate way of exploring fantasies. The only way to get that direct interaction, of course, is through streaming sites or sexting sites.

Society’s Rising Demands

Tech has not only made it easier to connect to others; it’s also made us far more demanding in terms of business. Take a look at how Amazon’s changed the way we see commerce. 15 years ago, the idea of demanding two-day delivery for free would have gotten you laughed at. These days, we live in a world of instant gratification. 

In the adult world, we already have a form of instant gratification when it comes to camming--but not when it comes to e-commerce. We also don’t have a unified platform that combines most major forms of entertainment into one place. 

Moreover, people are starting to get increasingly averse to paying for porn. To make it profitable for most models, we’re going to need higher payouts. Otherwise, we’re going to inevitably see a drop in talent. 

Bring On The Pretty

Speaking of rising demands, let's talk about the differing standards that we're seeing in websites. When I was 20, most websites looked pretty terrible. Heck, even major social media platforms had eyesores aplenty. To a point, some sites still lag like that in the adult world--but even that is changing. 

Both models and viewers are starting to demand more streamlined, easy-access sites. They want to browse things on mobile. They want to have everything at the touch of a button. The crazy part? Well, if you ask me, the craziest part is that many top sites are only beginning to listen. 

I, for one, can't wait to see the new vanguard of X-rated websites. 

Change Is A-Coming

Right now, porn is facing an increase in stigma and censorship throughout social media. It’s an industry beleaguered by rising demands and tech that yearns to keep up pace. The same can be said with camming. There’s no doubt to the fact that models, porn stars, and management all seem to have new demands that companies are struggling to meet. 

I might be somewhat new to the scene, but I can honestly say that change is coming. With hope, that’ll be a good thing for everyone involved.