Photo Illustration by Erin O’Flynn/The Daily Beast/Getty
Once upon a time, porn stars’ biggest dating problem was potential mates overreacting to our profession. Now, we’re lucky if we can even land a date.
In the 21st century, most people meet partners on dating apps. When I reached out to porn stars and other sex workers about their dating stories, I expected to hear about people sending inappropriate messages to sex workers on Tinder. Instead, I received an onslaught of stories about Tinder and other platforms outright banning sex workers simply because of their occupation. Tinder and other apps ban sex work. The policy makes sense if it was a ban on sex workers using the app to sell sexual services, but nearly every sex worker has stories about dating apps deplatforming them for their occupations. Technology companies are making it difficult for sex workers to chat, let alone find a romantic life partner.
Tinder received the most complaints. “Tinder banned me for stating ‘I have an OF,’ and nothing you do or say will change that,” said sex worker Shiza Panda. Added adult performer Kristopher Koffin, “Tinder outright banned me a couple of years ago for being a sex worker.” But the problem surpasses Tinder. My friend (and adult actress) April Kelly describes facing censorship on a variety of apps. “People think it’s hilarious I’m banned from Tinder (twice) and Bumble took my account down as well,” she says. The problem annoys her because often the apps deplatform her even though she doesn’t engage in sex work on the platform. (A representative for Tinder said that the app’s terms of service state “if a member violates any of these policies, including promoting or advocating for commercial sexual services, they may be removed from Tinder.)