Decriminalize Sex Work

Twitter’s Latest Pivot Could Be Gamechanging for Sex Workers

By

A potentially big change is coming to Twitter, one that’s been years in the making. The Washington Post reported this morning that Elon Musk, Twitter’s new daddy, is working on a feature that will allow creators to charge for video content.

Which is potentially good news for sex workers, especially after last year’s OnlyFans kerfuffle:

According to sex worker Ashley Lake, the change could potentially transform how sex workers make money online. The switch will (hopefully) take some of the power away from business models like OnlyFans and put some of it back into the hands of individuals.

Instead of wiping adult content from the site in a bid to get bigger advertisers, this move could help sex workers monetize their presence on the site rather than depending on third party platforms.

Even more exciting is the possibility of using Stripe on Twitter, a popular financial processing platform that has traditionally not been friendly to sex workers:

While Twitter is still very much in a transitional moment during the pending Musk takeover, changes like these could be potentially helpful for individual creators, including sex workers.

In Musk’s search for a more sustainable monetization platform, he might have just made an accidental difference in the way sex workers are paid (and charged by credit card companies) for their work:

That said, we’re still dealing with Elon Musk, so let’s not get too excited:

This move could help cis sex workers while still subjecting trans and nonbinary sex workers to hate on the platform, which famously has not done a fantastic job of protecting its most vulnerable users from hate speech and harassment.

While Tumblr is just getting back into the NSFW game, they’re still not allowing monetization, which means that individual creators could have their work stolen and recirculated without seeing a dime:

And, as Lake points out, Twitter is already a top site for adult content, it’s just that up until now, there hasn’t been a way for users to charge for adult media without leaving the site:

Obviously, even without advertisers, Twitter censorship (specifically government-mandated censorship) is still going to be a big problem.

There’s a reason why some folks aren’t feeling 100% positive about this move:

However, as Lake has explained, Musk is uniquely positioned to hold up under government censorship due to his wealth:

Don't forget to share:
Tags: Elon Musk OnlyFans sex work Tumblr Twitter

Help make sure LGBTQ+ stories are being told...

We can't rely on mainstream media to tell our stories. That's why we don't lock our articles behind a paywall. Will you support our mission with a contribution today?

Once Monthly Annually

Cancel anytime · Proudly LGBTQ+ owned and operated

Read More in Culture
This Australian OnlyFans star has the gays in a frenzy for this very big reason
Extremely Large and Incredible Wide
This Australian OnlyFans star has the gays in a frenzy for this very big reason
BY Henry Giardina
Billie Eilish’s new era is sapphic, X-rated, and unfiltered
Getting Real
Billie Eilish’s new era is sapphic, X-rated, and unfiltered
BY Jude Cramer
This urban playground boasts legendary gay bars, two Prides, & even a Tom of Finland tribute
Slay LA
This urban playground boasts legendary gay bars, two Prides, & even a Tom of Finland tribute
BY Daniel Bello
Someone queered-up American Girl dolls — and humorless straight folk are unimpressed
representation matters
Someone queered-up American Girl dolls — and humorless straight folk are unimpressed
BY David Hudson
14 messages trans people want you to stop sending on dating apps
From the Archive
14 messages trans people want you to stop sending on dating apps
BY INTO
Here’s how Emma Stone helped Taylor Swift make ‘The Tortured Poets Department’
Getting Stoned
Here’s how Emma Stone helped Taylor Swift make ‘The Tortured Poets Department’
BY Jude Cramer
The Latest on INTO
Lil Nas X drops candid new track about Grindr, hookups, condoms and PrEP
let's talk about sex, baby
Lil Nas X drops candid new track about Grindr, hookups, condoms and PrEP
BY David Hudson
<i>Baby Reindeer</i> takes a sharp, painful look at gay shame
Healing Hurts
Baby Reindeer takes a sharp, painful look at gay shame
BY Henry Giardina
Lily Gladstone and Kelly Marie Tran cast as lesbian couple for cult movie remake
Couple Goals
Lily Gladstone and Kelly Marie Tran cast as lesbian couple for cult movie remake
BY Joshua S. Mackey
Connor Franta just gave us a masterclass in dragging the haters
The Girls Are Fighting
Connor Franta just gave us a masterclass in dragging the haters
BY Jude Cramer
Is ‘Challengers’ part of an unofficial trilogy?
Movie Madness
Is ‘Challengers’ part of an unofficial trilogy?
BY Jude Cramer
Here’s the forgotten queer love story behind this beloved children’s classic
Behind the Book
Here’s the forgotten queer love story behind this beloved children’s classic
BY Henry Giardina