Topic of the thesis: The platformization of sex work

Abstract: This research project aims to explore the changing nature of sex work in digital landscapes, focusing on adult subscription platforms such as Onlyfans. The aim is to examine working experiences within this platform, as well as it's relation with offline sexual labour. The ubiquity of internet technologies has impacted the realm of sexual commerce not only in terms of in size, but producing a reconfiguration of work relations and practices, characterized by an increase of individualized erotic labour, the professionalization of amateurism, and a particular taste for 'realness' and 'rawness' from the consumers' side. These elements challenge boundaries between professional and amateur working conditions, between work and leisure time and spaces, between commercial and authentic exchanges. Through the exploitation of longitudinal qualitative content analysis and social network analysis, together with in-depth interviews, this study explores the experiences of digital sex workers on adult subscription platforms. The aim is to comprehend what is at stake when sex work is re-mediated by platforms- what features does the labour process present when shaped by a technological infrastructure where every interaction is heavily monetized and datafied? Focus will be placed not only regarding sex workers' activities on adult websites and platforms, but also on their engagement with the technological ecosystem at large for self-branding purposes.

Research interests: Digital sociology - Sociology of work - Media studies - Porn studies - Platform economy - Sex work - Qualitative methods

Graduated from: University of Bologna.

Degrees obtained: BA in Anthropology, Religions and Asian Civilizations – MA in History and Oriental Studies, curriculum Global Cultures.

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