Pornhub is one of the biggest pornographic websites in the world. It hosts millions of videos and gets billions of visitors every year. The website, which went live in 2007, is owned by MindGeek, a Luxembourg-based company.
Pornhub has come under fire for its content moderation policies and the alleged presence of illegal and non-consensual content on its platform in recent years. Due to this, the company has been cut off from payment processors like PayPal and Visa, and the website has been banned in a number of countries.
Concerned about the presence of illegal content on Pornhub, Mastercard and Visa both announced in December 2020 that they would cease processing payments for the site. As a consequence of this, Pornhub made the announcement that it would no longer permit unverified users to upload content and would review its content to remove any content that violated the law.
Additionally, in February 2021, Pornhub made the announcement that it would remove millions of videos from its platform and ban all unverified users. The move was interpreted as an effort to address concerns regarding illegal and non-consensual content on the website.
The controversy surrounding Pornhub has also sparked discussions regarding the regulation of online content and the roles that internet platforms should play in policing their content. Some say that platforms like Pornhub should be held accountable for illegal content on their site, while others say that users and law enforcement agencies should share this responsibility.
How does make money?
Pornhub, like many other pornographic websites, makes money from advertising revenue and user-generated content.
Advertising: Pornhub generates revenue through advertising. The website displays banner ads, pop-up ads, and video ads to its users. These ads are served by advertising networks, and Pornhub earns money based on the number of clicks or impressions they receive.
Premium subscriptions: Pornhub offers a premium subscription service called Pornhub Premium. Users who subscribe to this service gain access to exclusive content, higher video quality, and other features. The website charges a monthly fee for this service, and it is one of the primary ways in which Pornhub generates revenue.
Affiliate programs: Pornhub has affiliate programs that allow other websites to promote their content and earn a commission on any sales that result from their referrals.
Merchandise: Pornhub sells a variety of branded merchandise, including clothing, sex toys, and other adult products. The website earns a commission on each sale made through their online store.
Production and distribution: In addition to hosting user-generated content, Pornhub also produces and distributes its own adult content. The website earns money by selling this content to other adult websites and distributors.
Conclusion
Particularly, the industry of adult entertainment, which includes Pornhub, has been criticized for exploitation of performers and other ethical violations. Numerous activists and organizations have called for increased industry regulation and oversight to ensure that performers are treated fairly and their rights are protected.