A Newsbeat investigation’s observed a rising number of United kingdom women are working as web cam models on the internet.
Market analysts say the overall webcam market is today worth more than a billion pounds, with online sex shows a big part of it.
Industry insiders claim there’s been a rise in applications, partly fuelled by the downturn, with hundreds of British girls signing up to UK websites every month, many more internationally.
They appear live on webcams that may be accessed on computers around the globe.
Men usually pay premium rates intended for the privilege.
Twenty-three-year-old Lauren’s been working as a webcam model for some months.
The lady works with a few other girls within a basement of a semi-detached house that is converted into a studio.
It’s been furnished to appear like two different rooms. On a single sexoao vivo side there’s a bed, on the other a sofa.
The girls wear fancy underwear and headsets to talk to punters within the webcams. Lauren told Newsbeat she can make up to £ 30 per hour with additional bonuses.
“You can see right now, it is talking dirty. You know, if they ask me to have my top off, I will carry out. ”
Big demand
2 weeks . secretive international industry. Females can work from anywhere in the world, appearing naked and talking clearly about sex.
Lauren
Lauren says she can make up to £ 30 per hour as being a webcam girl
Market analysts say general the webcam market grew from around £ 730m in 2006 to £ 1 . 1bn in 2008.
It’s predicted to almost double in well worth again by 2015, with pornographic webcam sites traveling much of that growth.
They say it’s more hidden from analysts coños pelirrojos than any other segments, but is a “lively” part of the market.
The most popular site is big in size, claiming to have about 27, 000 webcam models and 17 million users, with around 12, 500 new sign-ups each day.
Brodie Fry set up one of the websites. He advised Newsbeat the recession has contributed to more women working as webcam models.
“A lot of women with this sort of economic downturn will transfer to the adult industry.
This puts enormous pressure on women within the industry to perform more
Object campaign group
“This is actually a safe alternative to becoming an escort or an adult model. There’s total anonymity. Naturally , the operators don’t use their real names.
One site told Newsbeat in the last year it’s put another 42 British women typically a month on its literature.
Richard Smallbone recently set his unique webcam site. He advised Newsbeat up to 150 English women are signing up to UK sites a month, with many extra joining international sites.
He said: “We started off with 12 information and there would be one girl working during the day.
“Eighteen months down the line, we now have 80 different profiles, anything at all up to 16 girls operating during the day. ”
‘Enormous pressure’
But there are concerns. Campaigners say webcam girls could be pressurised into doing factors they’re not comfortable with.
Mobile phone
Mobile adult services are usually the next growth area
Anna van Heeswijk’s from Object, which promotions against the sexual exploitation of ladies, said the industry needs to be better regulated.
“It is the man who decides which women this individual wants to choose, depending on what she looks like and how she’s willing to behave sexually.
“This puts substantial pressure on women in the industry to perform more and more severe versions of pornography to be able to attract men, in order to make a living. ”
Lauren has no such worries. The lady said her priority is usually her three-year-old daughter and insists she’s not being used.
“A wide range of my friends are working in garments shops and stuff, they have perhaps no money.
“I could do two changes in a week and I’m just still earning more money than what they are and I get to spend all day, every day, with my girl.
“I didn’t want to be at work all day and also have her in nursery. I just wouldn’t be able to see her. ”
It is not only on the internet where livecam models are becoming more popular.
Juniper Research anticipates that revenues from mobile adult services will rise from £ 1 . 3 bn in 2008 to £ 2 . 9bn by 2013 – part of that growth is from webcams on mobiles.
