Internet-mediated+Sex+Worker

**Internet-mediated Sex Workers ** In modern times social networking is extremely prominent and is increasing rapidly. Prostitution has transformed into a business and networking service. In current times prostitution is increasingly coordinated over the Internet. Over the past decade, the Internet has become increasingly important in sharing information about prostitution. With the Internet, sex workers have been able to reach other types of customers, those who prefer to establish personal communication before actually buying sex, using the relative anonymity of Internet-based communication. Prostitution over the internet has become not too different from internet dating (Rocha, Liljeros & Holme, 2010). There are tens of thousands of websites dedicated, in one way or another, to prostitution. Most obvious perhaps are the sites dedicated to marketing the services of prostitutes. There are escort services and independent services. Escort services are usually regional; operate at the ‘upper’ end of the market, emphasis exclusivity, ‘sophistication’ and ‘beauty’ of the women they offer, professional photos, details of pricing and availability. Independent services are women who advertise sexual services on the internet but do not work through an agency, usually charge less, show photos that often show nudity, their prices are usually timed based, have more explicit detail on the kinds of services offered, and their contact info which is usually a phone number or e-mail address. The internet allows people to meet the client and exchange info and experiences while staying anonymous and continuing to conceal their activities from others. It allows free flow of information that can be useful. It creates virtual communities and cyber worlds with sub or countercultures, where discreditable practices are accepted and practiced as a norm. It is a way for people to participate without posing any threat to their own identity (Sharp & Earle, 2002). **Craigslist **
 * Internet-mediated Sex Workers **

Craigslist was once used as a place for sex workers to advertise until several state Attorney Generals pressured them to handover information about advertisers. Eventually Craigslist removed their Erotic Services listings ( New York’s Sex Trade Now Leveraging Facebook). As an alternative, the website created an “adult” services section with more strict screening and a $10 fee. According to a writer known as Starchild, “Their new policy singles out folks who seek and provide erotic services from all other Craigslist users and subjects them to special discrimination, not to mention a greater risk of arrest, fine, and jail” (Gordon, 2009). The internet became a place where sex workers could escape the vice police, until Craigslist had to make changes. Singling out people who provide erotic services subjected them to discrimination which is very easily communicated through the internet. It also helped them communicate about their services easily though. This is why they resorted to other internet sites to continue business when Craigslist made changes.

**Facebook **  A [|survey] of sex workers in New York City finds that 83% of prostitutes have a Facebook page, which accounted for 25% of their regular clientele in 2008. Sudhir Venkatesh, a Columbia University professor, surveyed 290 prostitutes and found that 170 of them made more than $30,000 a year, putting them above the average streetwalker (Tuesday, 2011). “ According to the survey, the use of social media and other technologies has completely altered the trade on the ground, how it is marketed, client screening, income generation and safety. Facebook and other social tools are being use to friend clients, screen and negotiate” ( New York’s Sex Trade Now Leveraging Facebook). Back in 2003, it wasn't Facebook but Craigslist that prostitutes favored; among the women Venkatesh interviewed, 61% said they had used Craigslist to advertise, and in 2003 they were getting about 9% of their regular customers through the site. When Craigslist was shut down in 2010, more prostitutes moved to Facebook to fined clientele. "But even before the crackdown on the site's adult-services section, sex workers were turning to Facebook," Venkatesh said. Between 2003 and 2008, the amount of regular clients coming from Craigslist went from 9% to 3%, while the share from Facebook increased from zero to 25%” ( Tuesday, 2011). Prostitutes use the internet and Facebook as ways to beat competition and lure in clients. It allows for the flow of information such as the type of sex performed or other arrangements during the encounter, disease, prices, characteristics and location. Prostitutes become more dependent on referrals and relationships they can create with clients through social networking. Using the internet to do business allows for prostitutes to make it more personal and lure away from pimps and madams, which allows them to also keep 100% of their profits.

**Punternet.com ** Punternet dominates the UK by this website that contains over 5000 reviews of British prostitutes. The site is covered with links to other sites that directly advertise the services of prostitutes. It also contains discussion boards aimed at prostitutes. Sites like these let men share their experiences, anonymously, with prostitutes. They can discuss what they like or dislike about the prostitutes they encounter. Since men are allowed to talk about their sexual experiences with others while being anonymous, they are more willing to share their opinions and preferences. (Sharp & Earle, 2002) **References ** Cara. "International Sex Workers Rights Day — Feministe." //Feministe//. 03 Mar. 2009. Web. 06 Apr. 2011. . Gordon, Bennett. "Sex Workers Respond to Craigslist." //UTNEreader//. 21 May 2009. Web. 8 Apr. 2011. <http://www.utne.com/Media/Sex-Workers-Respond-to-Craigslist-Gordon.aspx>. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;">"New York’s Sex Trade Now Leveraging Facebook." //D' Technology Weblog: Technology, Blogging, Computer, Hardware, Software, Networking, Web, Media, LifeStyle, Gadgets//. 08 Feb. 2011. Web. 09 Apr. 2011. <http://www.ditii.com/2011/02/08/new-yorks-sex-trade-now-leveraging-facebook/>. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;">Rocha, Luis E. C., Fredrick Liljeros, and Petter Holme. "Information Dynamics Shape the Sexual Networks of Internet-mediated Prostitution." //Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences//. 03 Feb. 2010. Web. 09 Apr. 2011. <http://www.pnas.org/content/107/13/5706.full>. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Sharp, Keith, and Sarah Earle. "Cyberpunters and Cyberwhores: Prostitution on the Internet." //Google Books//. 2002. Web. 09 Apr. 2011. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"><[]>. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;">Tuesday, Meredith Melnick. "Edged off Craigslist, High-End Prostitutes Sell Sex on Facebook - - TIME Healthland." //TIME Healthland - A Healthy Balance of the Mind, Body and Spirit//. 01 Mar. 2011. Web. 09 Apr. 2011. <http://healthland.time.com/2011/03/01/edged-out-of-times-square-and-off-craigslist-prostitutes-turn-to-facebook/>.