It’s hard to find accurate data on traffic to porn sites; that’s either because it’s the least interesting thing about porn sites, or because the numbers are simply too high to count. Whatever the case, there’s no doubt that a ridiculous number of people visit porn sites every day, and this trend isn’t going to slow down anytime soon. When it comes to sex cam sites you can still see a high number of daily visitors, but they’re not even close to overtaking porn sites. Even though there are several advantages to sex cam sites, porn has its own advantages too – more on that below.
Then there’s OnlyFans, which isn’t quite a porn site, and isn’t quite a sex cam site. Even so, there’s no shortage of salacious content on this platform; the top OnlyFans models are in high demand, with viewers visiting sites like The Little Slush to find whatever they’re in the mood for, such as the best MILF OnlyFans.
Why sex cam sites are more restricted compared to porn sites – and how that impacts popularity
To understand why porn is so much more popular than sex cam sites, you have to consider the legal implications of crossing certain lines. That’s right – even the wildest porn videos have to stay away from legal gray areas.
With sex cam shows, though, they have to be even more careful. Because the performance is live, there’s no chance to go back and edit out any aspects that are deemed “too far”. This is why certain topics (such as incest) are generally avoided on sex cam sites, while porn sites are chock-full of them – with the caveat that they’re all step-siblings, of course.
This means that, for all the touted benefits of sex cam sites, many viewers simply can’t find what they want there. Porn sites generally offer a wider variety of categories, plus some viewers simply prefer the format of a pre-recorded video.
Legally speaking, porn and sex cam sites can’t contain “obscene content”
If you needed a good laugh, here you go – porn producers and webcam models have to make sure they aren’t producing obscene content. While this is obviously a ridiculous thing to say, it all boils down to the legal definition of the term. As it turns out, there’s barely a working legal definition at all; for instance, it includes language saying that current community standards would have to be flaunted in order to consider something “obscene”, which makes no sense in the context of porn. By that standard, a woman wearing a bikini could be considered obscene by people in an extremely conservative area – and the average porn video does a lot more than show off women in bikinis.
How does this affect the production of pornographic content?
One thing’s for sure – if it can be legally demonstrated that pornographic content qualifies as “obscene”, there can be dire legal consequences. Obscenity trials make big waves, and if the offending party is found guilty, they won’t be simply let off with a slap on the wrist and an admonition to do better next time.
This is why the average porn and sex cam sites tend to follow the same categories. Sure, some of them focus on certain fetishes, but you don’t see very many of them truly breaking the mold. Even though there’s definitely a demand for every type of fetish you could name (legal or not), porn and sex cam sites steer clear of anything that could cause trouble.
However, this is also where you’ll find one major advantage that porn has over cam sites. Categories like incest aren’t considered socially acceptable, but what if you put “step” in the title? It still satisfies the demand for incest porn, but it also avoids triggering an obscenity trial. On a sex cam site, though, that would be cutting it way too close. Pressure from viewers, a cam girl who didn’t really care, or any number of other factors could easily push a webcam performance into forbidden territory. Even though the viewers would probably be over the moon, the cam girl could get kicked off the platform, while the platform itself could get into trouble as well.
Enough about the legal stuff – why do people keep coming back to porn and sex cam sites?
Legal concerns aside, it’s pretty obvious that these sites do a great job of fulfilling their viewer’s needs. Just to round out the picture that’s being painted, here’s an overview of the advantages of porn sites vs. sex cam sites.
Advantages of porn sites
- Your favorite performers will always be available to watch. Since the content is pre-recorded, you’ll never have to make sure you’re showing up on time. It’s there 24/7, whenever you feel like watching.
- There’s no need for reciprocation. There’s a certain amount of responsibility involved in watching a cam show, but with a porn video, you’re the main event.
- You’ll get more categories to explore. As discussed above, there are generally more options on the typical porn site. Not necessarily in terms of the performers, but in the types of content that are available.
Advantages of sex cam sites
- It’s a more personalized experience. Having sex in-person is an intimate experience, but that element is missing from porn. With a sex cam show, on the other hand, you can at least approximate the intimacy and attention you can get from actual sex.
- You can feel more connected to the cam girl. Along the same lines, the knowledge that there’s some level of personal connection (even if it’s all an act) can make the fantasy seem so much more real.
- Every cam show is unique. Rather than a video that never changes no matter how many times you play it, each cam show will offer a new and exciting experience.
The takeaway
Whether you personally prefer porn or sex cam shows, you have to admit that they both have it going on. Despite legal limitations, it’s obvious that they’re here to stay for as long as the internet exists.