Lately I’ve been lurking in the shadows of what remains of Web 2.0, the depression, and the fact I no longer have a job. In other words, I have a lot of free time. With that said, this leads me to my latest obsession: Twitter. I’ve been keeping an eye on Twitter, a short messaging service, ever since it first launched. At first it was just a bunch geeks and bloggers, an overwhelmingly male demographic, which has now been superseded with an onslaught of porn stars, cyber hookers, and escort services.
Craigslist opened the door to a prostitution revolution.
Much like the old-media (newspapers, CNN) vs. the new social media (Digg, YouTube), when it came to Web 2.0 the porn industry took a considerable blow as content became free, however the escort industry took off. Suddenly pros no longer needed “pimps” as they could now manage themselves and their clients online without ever stepping foot on the corner of a street. It even offered some ability to screen potential clients, or “hobbyists.” As the innocent appearing pages of Craigslist soon became subject to spam, an overwhelming number of escorts, and police raids, escorts have had to step up their game to avoid the authorities, and have found ways to keep business going stronger than ever.
Escorts such as Jenny Demilo (her Twitter), Amanda Brooks (her Twitter), and Alexa (her Twitter) are now promoting themselves on social networks such as MySpace, FaceBook, and have latched onto Twitter like a tick to a dog. Better yet, these girls are actually making considerable waves on Twitter generating hundreds to thousands of followers, some of which use their services, or fantasizing about using their services. These entrepreneurial women have even spawned a new generation of websites such as NaughtyReviews.com, which also takes advantage of Twitter (And, yes I do mean sexually).
Ever since I was a teen I have been fascinated to watch how the porn and sex industries influenced technology, and vice-versa. I mean what self respecting porn addict doesn’t use Safari or Firefox over Internet Explorer to hide their porn viewing habits in Privacy Mode? Or hell, even a year ago, who would have thought prostitutes would become celebrities thanks to Twitter?
Last and least, there is always my own lame Twitter account in comparison to these fine ladies.
While I’m sure you didn’t intend to portray such a dire outlook upon Twitter, you’ve made some pretty bold statements that need to be addressed.
which has now been superseded with an onslaught of porn stars, cyber hookers, and escort services
An onslaught? There are about 100 porn stars (many of whom rarely Tweet) and a couple of dozen “cyber hookers” on Twitter. Out of all of the millions of people who use Twitter, I hardly think that constitutes anything approaching an “onslaught.” Perhaps if you weren’t following us so closely, and elected to examine the number of politicians on Twitter instead, you’d see that we’re hardly anything close to a substantial presence in the Twittosphere that other conglomerations of individuals represent.
Escorts such as …. have latched onto Twitter like a tick to a dog.
Again, your hyperbole makes it sound as though we’re recruiting clients via these venues, and nothing could be further from the truth. Neither I nor any of the other “cyber hookers” who’re on Twitter, FB, MS, etc., have used any of these services to actively “recruit” clients. I have yet to see the first solicitation from a legitimate provider on any of these services for clients, in fact. We do occasionally have someone contact us inquiring about our services, but we’re not trolling for clients in any of these places.
Do we have followers? Absolutely. But there are plenty of other people who’re not “cyber hookers” on Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace who have far, far more followers than any of us will ever have. Jenny, Amanda, and I use these tools to network with other providers and people interested in what we do, and to educate people about our work and ourselves (we are far more than just “hookers,” in case you didn’t notice while you were following us). We, like all other humans, are social creatures, and Twitter provides us with a tool that enables real-time communication about issues that involve us or our industry or problems and issues we encounter in our work and our daily lives. Or, in other words, we put Twitter to use just as the vast majority of other Twitterers do.
Is there an interest in our profession in the Twittosphere? Absolutely. Sex is and always will be of interest to people, especially in our culture where it isn’t possible to have an honest, legitimate conversation about the subject in most public venues. And just as other professions use these tools to network, so, too, should you expect the sex industries to use them. Twitter is a mechanism that allows people to explore and educate themselves about any subject under the sun, including, yes, sex and those of us who sell it.
Now, having said all of that, I fully expect some enterprising hooker or agency at some point to start using Twitter to advertise or attract clients. In fact, I predicted as much a few months ago and am surprised it hasn’t happened yet. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves and make it seem like the place is a cesspool of prostitution quite yet.
Finally, let’s keep in mind that you have to choose to follow us on Twitter. We didn’t just pop into your Twitter stream unannounced. You actively sought us out, followed us, and you’re now seeing what you were looking for. If you took all of us out of your follow list, it would be as if us “cyber hookers” never existed on Twitter.
I do appreciate your perspective on this subject, but I’d encourage you to address it in a reasonable fashion and not blow things out of proportion.
Thanks for the opportunity to comment on your blog. <3
While I thank you for linking to me, Twitter and CraigsList are not the beginning of online escorts. Escort’s personal websites first appeared in 1996 (as far as I’ve been able to find out), followed by advertising malls and review/discussion boards. Web 2.0 offers new tools some of us use, but it’s hardly the revolution. The Internet itself IS the revolution.
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“These entrepreneurial women have even spawned a new generation of websites such as NaughtyReviews.com, which also takes advantage of Twitter”
Well, escort review communities have been around for likely over a decade – so I don’t think that Twitter (or those fine ladies) spawned the concept.
That being said, Naughty Reviews certainly understands the value of a site with twitters outreach and networking potential and we’re always happy to make new friends there.
Smart girls in the sex business often find ways to exploit new media – Twitter serves to that purpose as well as being quite entertaining. I know i have fun with it and it helps to put me in front of a possibly untapped market.
thanks for the mention
Jenny
And what is wrong with escorts? They provide a valuable service to communities all across this country.
@Alexa – I am a writer, simply focusing on the scope of my subject. I know how Twitter works. Thank you for the comment though.
@Amanda – Agreed, the internet is the revolution. Was simply reporting on one corner of it.
@The Bronx – Nothing.
I know how Twitter works.
I wasn’t suggesting you didn’t know how Twitter works. I was stating that you don’t know how we (us “cyber hookers”) use Twitter, as you so eloquently demonstrated.
It is shameful that escorts are allowed to use these means to advertise themselves. I think they should all be sent to MOI house (no, not all at once …. LOL) and be properly “punished”. Yup, I see no other solution.
RAP
The sex industry is honest. It tends to be self policing.
Marriage, as perpetrated by way too many people, is nothing more than sex for higher, then comes divorce when the services are no longer rendered to one or the others specifications.
The popularity is overwhelming.Husband comes home from work finds out wife hooking by /on twitter,laughs its delightful and consider the extra income ,fame celebrity ect. You could get tapped by Mc Cain ,the politician.Only the husband twits also has gigantic female fan club imagine the new explosion of attraction in the marraige.
The other professional ladies have spoken truly. But as a long-time escort, I’d also like to add that the “history” of prostitution is based on ignorant media following stereotype, not fact.
I’ve been around quite a while, and even in the pre-internet days, many of us worked independently and with an upscale image. I’ve never had a pimp, and I’ve only met one girl who did (and I’ve met quite a few ladies over the years).
Further, Craig’s List didn’t revolutionize anything, other than to allow some streetwalkers to work indoors, and to call attention to a formerly discreet industry.
I was advertising on an escort-mall type site, Eros Guide, back in 1995. I don’t use Craig’s; I have my own website, which I manage.
The modern escort spends 90 percent of her time on the computer, marketing, networking, managing her ads and branding effort, updating her site, etc.
A mere 10 percent is spent making friends happy.
I’ve seen marketing gurus commenting that they spend thousands on workshops to learn what escorts already know. We are seamlessly integrated into the Internet, and already helping shape the future.
I do appreciate you writing a blog that isn’t hateful… it’s so exhausting when people do that.
xxxooo
Beverly ;-*
Good Lord Rap is there ANYWHERE You are not?
I just heard about your blog, and after reading it, I just joined Twitter.
Forgive me, as I am NOT computer savvy, but I did manage to post my pic and change my profile background color…Yayy!!! lol
So, if anyone wants to cum Twitter with me, please look me up. Somebody is already using my legal name, so I chose Robbin_Young instead. Hope to Twitter with you, soon!
BTW, I am a Vegas escort, so please check me out at: http://www.RobbinYoung.com
Robbin
xoxo
For the record, Eros-Guide was registered in 1997. TheEroticReview and BigDoggie in 1999, ASPD in 2000. Though there were bulletin boards and discussion groups before these more public sites came along.
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Thanks for hooking us normal people up with some nice escorts…
Checked out many of the sites… Amanda Brooks, you are one smoking hot lady. Wow. The glasses are a nice touch too.
Where people get together, the black market will flourish. I am happy that the nations prozzies are using technology to their advantage. The prohibition on prostitution has to be one of the dumbest pieces of nonsense we endure as a society. The white man’s version of making chicks wear veils.
First off, I appreciate the fact that your blog was not “hateful”, as many of the reporting of this industry tend to be.
However, I must agree with Alexa, that there has not been an “onslaught” like you mention, but more of a “trickle” of ladies curious if this social media phenomenon can be utilized as yet another component of their marketing “toolboxes”.
I myself utilize Twitter for my “civilian” business, and am still considering whether or not to utilize it for this industry, but this, like ANY OTHER MEDIUM, is what one chooses to make out of it. Take a look at the varying “pedigrees” of ladies advertising on Craig’s List, for example. Both ends of the spectrum.
But, I imagine sooner or later some news service will pick up on the fact that escorts use this tool, and there will be a moral backlash, and Twitter will have to find some way of screening potential users, and we ladies will have to find something else to use.
Have a lovely day (“Love” being the operative word) *wink*
Nadine
To Sasha,
RAP sees all, knows all, tells nothing (OK, almost nothing …. LOL).
RAP
Hi RAP!
Robbin
xoxo
Hi My name is Nicole King and I own and operate an escort agency based in Toronto, Canada for the last 8 years. I don’t want to hate on your blog post, but I have to agree with Amanda and Alexa. You make some pretty bold statements and I think you only based it on your personal opinion, which is based on your limited view and understanding of the escort industry. This is what has caused so many people to misunderstand this industry, and why some people have a negative view about it.
I personally disagree with your statement about Craigslist, and I didn’t think it revolutionized anything, but maybe popularized it. If anything Craiglist only made it easier for “Pimps” and other negative people to advertise and exploit ladies for free. I don’t know what its like in the states, but most Canadian SPs(Service Providers) view it as a cheap source for advertising and many of the clients don’t trust most of the ads and prefer to use other sources to find ladies. I have been told by many clients that they only browse CL to find ladies who will offer more for less.
Many Ladies have been working and promoting on line for last 15 years. Why is it that everyone always talks about Craigslist? What about the review boards, Escort Directories or Client screening services? These services have been around a lot longer and they are in my opinion the real sites that are fueling the SP revolution.
I am also on twitter, you can follow me at http://www.twitter.com/nicoleking. But before twitter, I used to have a text message group. I use Twitter just like my old text message group. They only advantage now is that I can post photos and it doesn’t cost as much as texting did.
Thanks for taking the time to write about this industry and I am sorry if I came off like I was ranting. If your ever in Canada, or Toronto. Feel free to look up my agency I would love to show you our warm Canadian hospitality.
Thanks
Nicole King
Great Blog, It seems a fact that some females are made for cooking and cleaning, organising the home. We could not manage without them, however some females are just for sex, you don’t look at them and think I want them to cook me the perfect T Bone. Regardless of your age religion or marital status you just want to copulate with these goddesses. Ain’t life a bitch.
LostInDaJungle,
While I thank you for your compliments, the glasses aren’t a “nice touch” — they’re there because I’m very nearsighted and can’t wear contacts anymore (too drying).
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[...] Trent Lapinkski blogs about escorts and Twitter (and gets taken to task by more than a couple of ladies). [...]
Calling from New Zealand, where “Hookers Online” is a brand new concept (all of 3-4 years old and still with the vast majority completely unaware)…Beverly, I hope you dont mind if I spread your
“The modern escort spends 90 percent of her time on the computer, marketing, networking, managing her ads and branding effort, updating her site, etc.
A mere 10 percent is spent making friends happy.
I’ve seen marketing gurus commenting that they spend thousands on workshops to learn what escorts already know. We are seamlessly integrated into the Internet, and already helping shape the future.” ?
Thats great
If twitter doesn’t stop the porn and escorts soon, they had better make people verify their age before they join. It’s kind of awful that the “dark side” of the internet is invading services like twitter.
I love Eros and MPReviews where Men review and write detailed information. They do have great forums but are known mostly for reviews. I have been a member for 8 years. I was one of their first members
. check it out http://www.MPReviews.com