It’s becoming less of a secret that the mainstream porn industry has a history of exploitation. For that reason, many people argue in favor of so-called ‘ethical porn’. They claim it guarantees performers’ consent, fair pay, and enjoyment.
But is ethical porn really exploitation-free? Let’s discuss.
In an effort to become more ethical, some studios have tried to implement “exit interviews.” These occur after a shoot is over. During these interviews, performers state on-camera that they consented to everything. Unfortunately, many performers report that their paycheck and future job opportunities often depend on them saying everything was consensual in exit interviews, leading to coercion.
One performer recounted, ‘I endured severe abuse on set a few times, and I had to say on camera at the end that I was fine. I once said, ‘No, I am not okay,’ they screamed at me that I couldn’t say that and get paid.”
People claim that paying performers directly through sites like OnlyFans guarantees consent in porn. But what many people don’t realize is that OnlyFans—much like the mainstream porn industry—has a history of profiting from nonconsensual content, trafficking, and even child sexual abuse material (aka “child porn”).Titheradge, N., & Croxford, R. (2021). The children selling explicit videos on OnlyFans. BBC News. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-57255983Copy
However, paying performers directly comes with its own issues. Many OnlyFans creators find that because they are obligated to the demands of subscribers, their boundaries are pushed further to keep making fresh, competitive content and thus keep an income.
Even if someone “consents,” is it enthusiastic consent? Are they free to revoke that consent without fear of losing their livelihood?Agnew, M. (2020). How influencers are being talked into porn on OnlyFans. The Times Retrieved from https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/onlyfans-influencers-online-sex-workers-porn-sr55qhx9hCopy
As one OnlyFans creator said, “Every time I posted something, my followers would say, ‘That’s good, but it’s not enough,’ I felt like I had to keep getting more extreme. I told myself that I was empowered and wanted to pretend that I was, but I felt horrible… I couldn’t stop because everyone told me I had to keep going. I was being forced—honestly, it felt like that.”Agnew, M. (2020). How influencers are being talked into porn on OnlyFans. The Times Retrieved from https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/onlyfans-influencers-online-sex-workers-porn-sr55qhx9hCopy
Many people consider “amateur” porn an ethical option since it doesn’t usually rely on big studios that could exploit performers. Still, research suggests that amateur porn usually promotes the same toxic, violent, and problematic depictions as mainstream porn. It’s often worse.Klaassen, M. J. E., & Peter, J. (2015). Gender (in)equality in internet pornography: A content analysis of popular pornographic internet videos.52(7), 721-735. doi:10.1080/00224499.2014.976781Copy
But even if we could fully guarantee consent in porn, that wouldn’t render porn harm-free. Hundreds of peer-reviewed studies demonstrate porn’s role in relationship issues, poorer mental health, and normalizing sexual violence.
While the concept of ethical porn may have good intentions, there is still no way to guarantee that it’s genuinely exploitation-free.
And regardless, porn can still have serious adverse effects on the consumer and their relationships. Is watching worth it?
