Pornhub Exec Discusses Pulling Out of the South, Trad Wives, and Feet Pics
Jan 27, 2025
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Alexzandra Kekesi, the VP of Brand and Community at Pornhub, shares her insights after over a decade with the company. She dives into the stigma surrounding the adult industry and discusses the unexpected rise of 'trad wife' content and foot fetishism. Kekesi also explains Pornhub's decision to exit markets in a third of the U.S. due to age verification laws that resemble a digital dark age. The conversation touches on the challenges of content creation, the importance of human support, and the evolving landscape of adult entertainment.
Alexzandra Kekesi highlights the stigma faced by the adult industry, emphasizing the importance of community engagement and dialogue with creators.
The stringent compliance protocols intended for safety can hinder content creation efficiency, frustrating long-time performers reliant on quick uploads.
Kekesi discusses the backlash against regressive age verification laws, advocating for solutions that promote user privacy without compromising safety.
Deep dives
Background and Career Journey
Alexandra Kekesi, the VP of Brand and Community at Pornhub, shares her journey into the adult industry, starting with her academic background in gender and sexuality studies. She developed a deep interest in sex work as a feminist cause during her studies, particularly focusing on the complexities of sex work laws and bodily autonomy. Kekesi began her career at the company over a decade ago, when it was known as Manwin, working her way up from community management for smaller brands to her current leadership role. Her career progression highlights the importance of community engagement and the dialogue she maintains with creators, emphasizing that active participation in the industry sets Pornhub apart from its competitors.
Balancing Compliance with Creator Needs
One of the main challenges facing creators on Pornhub is the stringent compliance protocols that ensure the safety and legality of content submissions. Content creators must navigate a complex verification process involving documentation of consent and identity before their submissions can go live. While these measures aim to create a safer platform, they can lead to frustration for long-time creators who are accustomed to a different, more lenient uploading process. Kekesi acknowledges that while the requirements are necessary for compliance, they can also hinder the efficiency of content creation and monetization for performers who rely on swift uploads to generate income.
Addressing Industry Concerns on Age Verification Laws
Kekesi discusses the ongoing age verification laws affecting sites like Pornhub and the challenges they present both to users and the industry. Many users are understandably hesitant to upload sensitive personal information to access pornographic content, causing significant user drop-off rates in states where these laws are enforced. The adult industry's pushback against these laws revolves around the notion that they create barriers to a safer internet without addressing inherent issues of privacy and consent. Kekesi echoes concerns that these laws might inadvertently push users to unverified sites, resulting in potentially unsafe experiences because they bypass established trust and safety protocols.
The Insights Report and Cultural Trends
The recent year-in-review insights report from Pornhub reveals intriguing shifts in user search trends, indicating a rise in topics associated with traditional gender roles and domesticity. Searches related to 'Trad Wives' and 'demure' themes have seen significant growth, reflecting broader societal conversations on gender and sexuality. Kekesi notes that these trends may mirror changing cultural attitudes and highlight a paradoxical fascination with retro themes amid increasing conservatism in media. The insights gathered provide both creators and consumers with valuable data on emerging interests, potentially guiding content creation towards user demands while also sparking conversations on societal values.
Call for Better Age Verification Solutions
Discussions surrounding effective age verification laws pivot towards the need for innovative solutions that might provide safety without infringing on privacy. Kekesi highlights the Digital Age Assurance Act as a promising alternative; it proposes that age verification occur at the device level rather than on individual sites. This approach would streamline user experiences and mitigate privacy concerns by presiding over multiple forms of adult content under a unified vetting system linked to operating systems. By advocating for smarter regulations that respect user privacy, Kekesi emphasizes the importance of crafting policies that protect vulnerable demographics while enabling safe access to adult content.
On this special guest episode of the 404 Media Podcast, Sam talks to Alexzandra Kekesi, VP of Brand and Community at Pornhub. Kekesi started in her current role in August 2023, after working for Pornhub and its parent company for more than a decade. She joined us from Montreal, where Pornhub is headquartered. They discuss the stigma facing the adult industry, Luigi Mangione porn, the trad wife to feet pics pipeline, and algorithms that shut you down for showing side boob. Kekesi also breaks down Pornhub’s choice to pull out of states in more than a third of the U.S., following regressive age verification laws.
