If you’re a sex worker who hasn’t found a suitable partner yet, then you may want to try a hookup app that specifically targets sex workers. This way, you can find the kind of sexual encounters that you’re looking for without having to worry about your boss or husband interrupting things.
Sex Worker Profiles on Hookup Sites
Some studies have suggested that sex worker profiles are becoming more common on hookup sites and apps. While some are simply using the sites to flirt or meet new people, others may be trying to get into sex work without advertising their status as a sex worker. In a study published last year, researchers argued that these profiles “have the potential to be used as a gateway into sex work,”4(p485).
One sex worker told BuzzFeed News that her account was terminated by Tinder because she had a link to an escort site. This isn’t a new issue for sex workers: In Europe and North America, sex worker accounts have been banned from Tinder. The company doesn’t say why, but some have said that they had been asked to stop using the service, as they had breached the terms of service by sending out unsolicited messages.
Despite these repercussions, sex workers have remained active on the Internet. In addition to sex work, some have also tried their hand at dating. The app has been a popular way for gay men to meet women, and it is also a convenient place for sex workers to flirt.
Another reason sex workers have been turning to hookup sites is because they often lack the privacy and protections available to them in traditional forms of dating. While many of these sites are dominated by women, sex workers have reported that they’re unable to communicate directly with their dates or make it known when their accounts are being monitored.
In a study conducted by MacPhail, et al., it was found that gay men on hookup websites and apps were sometimes “casually propositioning other users of the site,”5(p484). These men were often not fully aware of their status as sex workers, and some had even violated the app’s terms of service by soliciting other users.
The sex workers who did manage to communicate with their clients were concerned that they would have no recourse if something went wrong. That’s why Smooci, a startup that offers sex workers an app to advertise their services on the internet, has introduced a new feature that allows escorts to mark themselves as safe after an encounter with their client.
Smooci says it never takes a cut of escorts’ income and merely makes money by monetizing premium month subscriptions. Its system is also designed to record GPS movements and keep a list of emergency contacts for its escorts.
Smooci is currently only working with a small number of escorts, but it hopes to expand the program soon. It also wants to make it easy for sex workers to report abuse and harassment, and ensure that they are always up-to-date on their vaccination status.