The Metaverse will Make Sex Work Safer and Easier
I’ve made it no secret that I’m waging a one-person war against the metaverse. After all, if Facebook has set out to start the singularity, I must at least try to stop them. Or at the very least slow the company down. However, my journey to harass Hank Zuckerhill has not been without detractors. A few of those critics have even asked if I don’t see any positives to the metaverse. But, the fact is that I do see one positive aspect within Facebook’s aberration. What is it? The fact that metaverse will be a haven for sex workers, porn, and all sorts of deviancy. An even more immersive version of OnlyFans, if you will. A place where you can indulge in your darkest fantasies without harming anyone in the real world. All for the right price, of course. Because as everyone knows, the internet is for porn.
Few people will remember the first adult content site on the internet, sex.com. Gary Kremen registered the website under his name in 1994. His goal, however, wasn’t to create a location for adult-oriented content. It was instead Stephen M. Cohen who did the “dirty” work of transforming sex.com into a den of lust. But, how did he achieve this goal without the rights to the site? Through falsified documents and forgeries, of course. Cohen scammed the company that managed website registrations back then into giving him ownership. Once he had the domain under his name, he proceeded to turn sex.com into a multimillion-dollar empire, getting sued in the process; and running off into the sunset after depositing his money into an off-shore bank account. But, how is this story relevant to the metaverse?
The internet as we know it was released in 1983 to the public. Before then, it was used primarily by the military and other governmental entities. Networking, however, wasn’t standardized, and the different systems couldn’t communicate with each other. As a response, ARPANET developed the TCP/IP (Transfer Control Protocol/Internetwork Protocol), allowing the various networks to overcome these communication issues. Essentially, it took 12 years after its “birth” for sex.com to become the first-ever porn site. Its timing couldn’t have been more appropriate. Just as the internet was about to reach puberty, it suddenly became interested in pornography. Today, we have more than 1.3 million porn sites available, severely dwarfing the number of social media sites in existence by a ridiculous margin. How is that possible? Well, as the adage says, sex sells.
The internet provided a safe place for sex workers to post their content and make money with minimal risks. It provided a spot for prostitutes to market themselves without walking the streets. Clear their clients before completing any transactions or meetings. Plus, it gave them the autonomy to operate independently from pimps. Websites like Craigslist, OnlyFans, Twitter, and Tumblr made it even safer for sex workers to exist and conduct business. Not to mention, the internet gave the fans more variety. Regardless of their kink, a site is available that caters to their tastes.
Yet, multiple sites have also taken an active stance against sex work. Tumblr, for example, banned adult content in 2017, consequently losing a significant portion of its fanbase. OnlyFans almost made the same mistake in 2021, reversing its stance after the negative backlash it received from the community. The fact is, the internet and sex workers benefit from a symbiotic relationship that provides protection and capital for both parties involved. Yet, the metaverse is positioning itself as the next evolution of the internet. So, where will that leave sex workers? The answer to that is the metaverse itself, thanks to some help from a few hardware developers.
Engineers at Somnium Space and Teslasuit are developing a haptic suit. If you don’t know what it is, think of clothing that allows you to feel sensations from virtual reality in real life. Also known as that black suit the kid from Ready Player One bought with his Patreon money after finding the first key. Wearing one of these while playing in the metaverse will provide a level of immersion only rivaled by real life. Consequently, the probabilities that these will not find their way into sex work are almost null. But, what makes it unique is that even if you’re feeling everything on the screen, there is zero physical contact. Thus, no one can charge you for the crime of prostitution.
Think about it this way; you’re only selling the experience of sex. There is no risk of pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections, personal identity exposure, revenge porn, or physical violence. Sex workers stand to gain some of the best advantages from the metaverse out there. Why? Because there are nearly no limits to what they can do. If someone wants to have sex with a plus-sized person, they can do it by altering their avatar’s statistics. Are they a robosexual? There was a robot in Benedict Cumberberg’s ad for the metaverse that looked sexy as hell. Are they unattractive in real life? It doesn’t matter because you’re using an avatar. Even subcultures like furries will also find a place for their kink without the usual criticism from the general public. To some people, the metaverse will be a paradise to live out their wildest fantasies in a safe and secure environment. Best of all? Everyone stands to profit from these ventures.
I believe, If anything, will legitimize the legality of sex work in the United States, it will be the metaverse. Senators and lawmakers will go crazy arguing over how to tax the multitude of people participating in these endeavors. Progressives will try to legalize all of it, while conservatives and others will dispute the morality of the issue. Others will try to avoid the topic altogether. Eventually, however, the amount of revenue that it stands to gain will force its hand. They will have to either accept what people are doing, try to force Facebook to shut those sites down, or leave it as is without gaining anything. But, I think we can all agree on what’s going to happen inevitably.
The same moral guardians that panicked about Grand Theft Auto, Mass Effect, Pokemon, and Dungeons & Dragons will throw a fit about it. Senators and other fossils in government will get involved. Facebook will come under scrutiny from religious groups and other organizations, forcing them to announce a ban on that type of activity. Receive a massive backlash from the widespread non-secular community regarding their freedom of choice, rinse and repeat until it surrenders in defeat. All because someone had sex with an anime character that looked 12 despite being in her 20's.
Yet, despite those possible (read likely) setbacks, the metaverse is shaping up to be heaven for sex workers. Those who choose to engage in any form of prostitution will be able to keep their identity hidden, all while earning a paycheck without the usual risks. Revenge porn will be a thing of the past since everyone is using avatars. STIs and unwanted pregnancies are non-existent in the digital world. As such, there are no health risks. All transactions remain anonymous for those who pay for the service. Finally, you’ll be able to realize almost any fantasy that you want without the fear of being kink-shamed by society or being considered ugly.
So, yes, I think there is something positive to the metaverse. At least, for those that can afford a 20,000 dollar suit that can simulate sensations. For everyone else, the metaverse is still an awful idea driven by pure speculation and grifters.
Now let’s recap today’s episode of hating on the metaverse.
The metaverse will:
- Provide a safe place for sex workers to conduct business.
- Allow anyone who wants to participate in prostitution to do so from the safety of their home.
- Prevent predators from attacking or taking advantage of sex workers.
- Permit subcultures such as furries to indulge in their fantasies.
- Possibly legalize sex work in the United States.
- Create the next generation of adult content.
- Generate massive controversy via moral guardians and other conservative think-tanks.
- Allow people to finally have sex with that anime character they fell in love with during their angsty teenage years.
- Disregard physical appearance because you’re all using avatars.