The Future of Pornography: Professionalization vs. Platforms

The article analyzes the transformation of the adult content industry, pointing to the shift from traditional studios to the platform economy. Although Wendy McElroy's vision assumed professionalization and greater agency for performers, reality brought about the phenomenon of re-intermediation. Despite their apparent independence from producers, creators have become dependent on digital infrastructure: payment systems, recommendation algorithms, and platform terms of service. This new form of control means that content moderation de facto becomes labor regulation. The text emphasizes that contemporary online sex work is an extreme example of the gig economy, where social marginalization combines with total dependence on private entities controlling data flow and market visibility.