The coronavirus pandemic has forced Big Tech to hide its head in the sand, but the sex industry isn’t. As horny people try to find ways to get their sex on while they’re quarantined, hookup apps are helping the adult entertainment world stay alive.
Tinder, for example, lets you browse profiles from all over the country and even the globe. It’s a handy tool for scouting local kink, but you’ll still need to take precautions when meeting up in person. Luckily, there are many other hookup apps available for the sex-seeking millennial. Some have dedicated sex features, and others are more focused on the casual fling. Here are a few of the best.
If you’re looking for sex on a budget, the popular hookup app FtLife is a solid choice. The app is free to download and use, and you can create a profile that includes all your personal information, such as your height and weight. However, the app does skew male, and it’s not exactly user-friendly, so some newbies may log in once and never again.
For those who prefer to meet in person, BeNaughty and Pure are two solid options. BeNaughty has a more laid back approach to the dating game, with no haughty pretenses of morality and a straightforward “Life is short, have an affair” slogan. The app offers a variety of sexy ways to connect, including chat rooms and cam broadcasting.
Another option is to check out Jonslist, an Australian online services directory that launched this year and allows workers to meet punters in real time. The site’s security measures are robust, and punters can choose to remain anonymous if they want. The chat feature also automatically deletes after three hours of inactivity, minimizing the risk that a worker’s digital trail might be discovered.
While these sites aren’t explicitly designed for sex work, many MSWs find that they can make money using them by offering sex in exchange for money or drugs, or for goods or services like travel or lodging. A recent study interviewed 180 MSM who used dating and hookup websites and apps to sell sex. Most reported that sex work was highly stigmatized, and most employed one or more stigma management strategies.
In April, President Trump signed a bill known as SESTA (Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act) and FOSTA (Fighting Online Sexual Trafficking Act). The law gave federal agencies broad powers to go after internet platforms that facilitate commercial sexual activities or non-consensual sexual content.
Many sex workers, like Dewi, who works in Bali, have complained that their accounts on dating and hookup apps have been shut down after they updated their bios to include the fact that they’re escorts. Tinder declined to answer BuzzFeed’s questions about this, but did point out that its community guidelines prohibit promoting “commercial sexual services, human trafficking or other non-consensual sexual activity.”