Prof Janaína Penalva and Gianluca Oliveira-Soares will conduct an exploratory study using digital ethnography and in-depth interviews, focusing on youth and young adult workers.

How do digital sex workers reconcile their political and ideological beliefs with their actions and work? Do sex workers on digital platforms support far-right ideologies, or do their marginalisation, precariousness, and stigmatisation push them towards more progressive or neutral positions?

This project seeks to explore the political and ideological profiles of digital sex workers and examine their working conditions on digital platforms. The term “digital sex workers” refers to individuals such as “sexual content creators,” “sex influencers,” and “cam performers,” among others engaged in online sex work.

The platformisation of sex work is not new, with early forms, such as online advertisements and pay-per-view sex videos, dating back to the early days of the internet. However, the rise of social media has introduced new challenges for sex workers, particularly the absence of regulatory frameworks. The COVID-19 pandemic further accelerated the shift to digital platforms, as social restrictions pushed sex workers to seek alternative sources of income. Many young people, especially women and girls from vulnerable social backgrounds, turned to digital sex work to support their families, as widely reported in major media outlets like The New York Times, The Guardian, and Folha de S. Paulo, as well as in previous research.

Although the peak of the pandemic has passed, the number of digital sex workers continues to rise. This increase has been partly driven by media coverage highlighting the financial success of influencers and celebrities on platforms like OnlyFans, though research emphasises that such success is far from universal. The main platforms for digital sex work vary by region but are dominated by X (formerly Twitter) and OnlyFans, which permit more lenient content regulations. Other platforms include Telegram and Bluesky, which have become key platforms in Brazil following the suspension of X, although the former faces issues such as piracy and lack of moderation. Instagram is also used, but primarily for less explicit content or to tease followers towards other platforms.

X plays a central role in this ecosystem, with its algorithm amplifying content based on user interactions. Users can view teasers from sex workers without following them. These teasers often direct followers to platforms like OnlyFans, where workers earn income through subscriptions or tips for exclusive content. Male and female digital sex work follows different dynamics, but both tend to cultivate a strong sense of self-entrepreneurship and foster intimacy with followers, focusing heavily on their physical appearance through fitness routines, dieting, and surgery. However, both face challenges due to the lack of platform regulation, particularly in terms of monetisation, copyright, and image management. Most digital sex workers come from marginalised groups, including LGBTQI+ individuals, people of colour, low-income communities, and women.