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Top Stories
Pornhub continues to take fire from opponents who claim the site trafficks and exploits young women, the end game of these critics is less clear. The group, Trafficking Hub, has risen to be the porn giant’s most formidable opponent, garnering media attention and gathering over eight hundred thousand petition signatures. The group raises extremely valid concerns regarding PornHub’s enabling of trafficking, non-consensual and underage porn but, as the National Post reports, the group may have a broader agenda that is anti-porn and sex positivity as a whole. “TraffickingHub…claims to be non-religious and non-partisan, it’s an offshoot of an organization called Exodus Cry...an explicitly Christian organization in Sacramento, California that takes on all manner of behaviours it views as improper, from sex trafficking to bikini baristas and stripping, and whose founder, Benjamin Nolot, preaches Biblical sexual purity.”
Pornhub has defended itself against the specific allegations as well as labelled these opponents as radical right wing fundamentalist who are anti-women and anti-LGBTQ.
Australia’s government warns its citizens against joining OnlyFans. This message comes after some 5,000 Aussies have reportedly joined the service as a way to make extra money during the Covid-19 downturn. Australia's eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, warns that creators' information can be hacked or leaked by disgruntled fans. In Australia, this would be considered revenge porn which is a crime with stiff penalties. OnlyFans says that they have technical measures in place to prevent theft of content and take legal action against stolen content being uploaded to their site. The popularity of OnlyFans downunder seem to stem from reality show stars and Instagram influencers who are reportedly making tens of thousands of dollars a day on the platform.
Big Tech can’t seem to get comfortable with sex. The Women of Sex Tech conference almost didn’t happen this year after getting booted from YouTube at the last minute. The group, made up of women in the sex tech industry, had been organizing events for the past five years, this was there first online event, a result of Covid. A spokesperson for YouTube told Motherboard the ban came from an automated moderator, however there is a widespread sentiment across the sex industry that big tech, automated or not, unfairly targets them when they are perfecly compliant with a platforms terms of service.
Insurance paying for sex toys sounds like a joke, but that’s exactly what former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Joycelyn Elders is recommending. Sex, intimacy and the toys which support those activities are known to have a number of health benefits including stress relief, Dr. Elder says “vibrators can have a much greater effect on overall health than we give it credit for, and health care professionals need to open their minds to the benefits.” In the middle of a pandemic, perhaps insurers could include these medical devices for relief. Dr. Elders has been a long time advocate for the medical benefit of masterbation, she was forced to resign as Surgeon General because of her position on teaching young people about masterbation.
What Else We’re Watching
He fought to protect sex workers from COVID-19 and much more. Then the virus came for him: Academic and activist Jaime Montego is memoralized by the people he fought for after succumbing to the Corona Virus.
OnlyFans Newbies On Their Lockdown Earner: Just like other jobs some people make a lot, others make a little, it’s harder then it looks.
SKYN promotes the power of foreplay and real connections : Non-latex condom company partners with Pornhub for some feel goodery, encouraging men to embrace a realistic view of sex. Hopefully creating needed goodwill as condom sales are down.
From Sainsbury’s to sex toys: The Chief Marketer of a boring major supermarket in the UK makes the jump to be the first CEO of a large and growing sex toy company. Ultimately the goal is the same, sell stuff to consumers.
You can now become a sex toy tester: Another sex toy company pulling a PR stunt offering to pay people to test out their toys.
Why now may be the perfect time for a porn revolution that brings realistic sex to the forefront: The woman who is credited with popularizing ‘feminist porn’ sees the current crisis as a catalyst to continue the revolution.
Feminist porn alive and well in Toronto: Hey, what do you know, feminist porn is alive and well in Toronto.
More people seem to be watching porn on work devices: Now that everyone with an office job is working from home people are using their work computers for porn, that’s causing some IT and HR issues.