iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

SWR Data @swr-data.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

The survey is anonymous and platform agnostic, giving us some of real insight into how the community is changing, how creator businesses can grow and what creators need — from politicians and platforms — in order to survive. Here's some of what we've learned.

substack.com

SWR Data | Substack

Providing data and insights into the evolving creator economy since 2022.

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SWR Data @swr-data.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Over the next week or so, we'll be sending out links to the survey via email to people who've taken it before, or signed up for the survey. (We don't post the survey publicly because we want to make sure it only reaches creators.) If you don't get the survey, reach out.

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SWR Data @swr-data.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

For us, there's not a more exciting time of the year. This is where we're able to finally find out — and share — what's been happening with and to the creator community in the past year. Platforms have their data. Which is why we need ours.

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SWR Data @swr-data.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Finally! The 2026 "State of the Creator" is here! Since 2022, the survey been a critical way to find out what's happening in our community. The platforms that are earning The sectors that are growing The challenges we're facing First round went out this afternoon! Keep an eye out on your inbox!

SWR Data state of the creator survey welcome page with text explaining the survey, designed by sex workers for sex workers.

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SΞX WOЯK CΞO @sexworkceo.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

Our data at @swr-data.bsky.social showed something last year most creators haven't clocked yet. Here's what it means for subscriptions. Episode 199 of On The Whorizon.

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SWR Data @swr-data.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

We're getting ready to launch our 2026 State of the Creator survey, which raises money for sex worker serving nonprofits. Last year, we raised over $8K, and hope to increase that this year. Compiling this year's beneficiaries now. Who are your favorite SW-serving orgs?

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SWR Data @swr-data.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

We're prepping our annual State of the Creator survey and have sent out the first email to our list. If you haven't gotten something from us, and want to be included in the survey, DM us.

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SWR Data @swr-data.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

What are you most curious about about the creator community?

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SWR Data @swr-data.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

We're finalizing the questions for the 2026 State of the Creator survey. This is the big one. What issues do you want to see included? What questions could we answer? What do you need to know to build your business (and keep your sanity)?

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SΞX WOЯK CΞO @sexworkceo.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

You do not own your digital agency at all. The followers on someone else's app are borrowed, and so is the reach, and so is your ability to talk to your own community. The platform that handed you all of it can take it back on a Tuesday afternoon with no warning and no appeal...

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Mila Catbat 🦇👠 Vtuber @milacatbat.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

Everyone joking about "gay for pay" when the stats show it's more like "hetero for pay"

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Mike Stabile @mikestabile.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

The adult industry needs to realize that trans and non-binary creators are disproportionately hurt by the War on Porn: 74% more likely to be attacked online 53% more likely to face content restrictions 41% less likely to have fans unwilling to AV Pride means committing to actual, systemic support.

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Mike Stabile @mikestabile.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

Numbers don't tell you everything, but they can be directional. Below, the platforms most popular among LGBTQ+ creators. Notably not on there? OnlyFans. Proud of the work @melrose.bsky.social and I doing with @swr-data.bsky.social, but we want more creator voices. Follow. DM. Get involved.

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SWR Data @swr-data.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

These net sentiment numbers come solely from creators working on each of those platforms, meaning the net percentage of creators who hold a positive view of the platform. At a time of increasing attacks, understanding who other queer and trans creators feel supported by may be critical.

swrdata.substack.com

Is There Another Industry as Queer as Adult?

Nearly 70% of creators identify as LGBTQ+. Why aren't we invited to Pride?

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SWR Data @swr-data.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

We also looked at which platforms were most highly ranked by trans, non-binary and more gender diverse creators: 1. @fansly.com (+71%) 2. @realloyalfans.bsky.social (+70%) 3. @sextpanther.bsky.social (+55%) 4. @clips4sale.com (+50%) 5. @chaturbate.com (+19%)

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SWR Data @swr-data.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

We didn't get into this in the actual post, but it's worth mentioning the five platforms LGBTQ+ creators view most positively: 1. @sextpanther.bsky.social (+74%) 2. @realloyalfans.bsky.social (+69%) 3. @fansly.com (+68%) 4. @clips4sale.com (56%) 5. @justfor.fans (+56%)

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SWR Data @swr-data.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

While there are lots of variables, generally workers take 80% of the revenue on platforms like OnlyFans or @justfor.fans. It gets divided up among more people, and still a gig economy, but it's been a significant source of income for millions of marginalized workers.

swrdata.substack.com

How Much Money Do Creators Actually Make?

The average annual income for adult creators is close to $60,000. That's much more important than you think.

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Ada (three ennuis in a crop-top) @adaframe.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

Pride was a fucking riot. Any pride that doesn't include space for sex workers isn't pride at all, it's rainbow assimilationism

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dr. thrasher, an american writer in ex(archia)(xile) @thrasherxy.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

Straight men who masturbate to porn: queer people are responsible for your orgasms (you’re welcum, happy pride)

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Kim Cums | SYD 🇦🇺🏳️‍🌈⚔️ @kimcums.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

For any overseas sex workers, if you ever come to Australia, I recommend visiting during Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras! @scarletalliance.bsky.social marches in the parade every year, and sex workers here have been involved in the celebration (and protest!) since the beginning ❤️

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Mistress Matisse @mistressmatisse.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

Happy Pride! Did you know that the majority of sex workers are LGBTQ+? I myself did know this, it’s one of my favorite things about the sex community 🤩🥰

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SWR Data @swr-data.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

The data are clear: more gender diverse creators are facing greater harassment, more content restrictions, more platform bans and greater decreases in revenue, often as a result of attacks on the industry. Adult platforms need to be doing more than making rainbow logos (one month a year).

Compared to cis creators, trans and non-binary creators were:
• 83% more likely to have had their content used in a deepfake (14.9% vs 8.1% cis)
• 54% more likely to have been doxxed or outted online (32.4% vs 21.1%)
• 15% more likely to have had content flagged or removed (70.3% vs 61.2%)
• 15% more likely to have been banned from an adult platform (18.9% vs 16.5%)
They're also the front lines of the War on Porn. Thanks to new restrictions like age-verification and political campaigns against sex and sex work, trans and non-binary creators were:
• 74% more likely to report being attacked or harassed online (33.8% vs 19.4%)
• 53% more likely to face restrictions on what they sell (74.6% vs 48.6%)
• 41% more likely to have fans unable to access their content (56.3% vs 40.0%)
• 24% more likely to report decreased revenue (60.6% vs 48.9%).

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SWR Data @swr-data.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

While that's something to be proud about, there's also good reason to protest. Trans and non-binary creators report earning about 66% of what cis creators do, and have been disproportionately impacted by attacks on the industry.

Adult creators by gender chart, featuring women (74%) men (16.6%), nonbinary (8.1%), agender (1.1%) and other (.5%).

Trans creators of any gender made up 9% of the respondent base.

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SWR Data @swr-data.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

The porn industry, which gets regularly attacked by the right and the left for either undermining or supporting the patriarchy, is a profoundly queer industry, with most of the revenue going to women and LGBTQ+ workers.

Graph showing adult creators by sexuality. Just 32% identify as straight A plurality identify as bisexual (33%) while others identify as pansexual, queer, asexual, gay/lesbian or other.

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SWR Data @swr-data.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

New Pride data from SWR: The adult industry is dominated by LGBTQ+ creators. Nearly 70% adult creators say they fall somewhere on the LGBTQ+ spectrum (including half the men in the industry.) And women make up 74% of creators. The adult industry is an industry of queer women. Where's our float?

open.substack.com

Is There Another Industry as Queer as Adult?

Nearly 70% of creators identify as LGBTQ+. Why aren't we invited to Pride?

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SWR Data @swr-data.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

Creators have seen this coming. Last year's State of Creator saw another consistent decline in OnlyFans share of the creator market, as platforms like @realloyalfans.bsky.social, @fansly.com and @sextpanther.bsky.social rose. swrdata.substack.com/p/the-swr-ho...

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SWR Data @swr-data.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

Save this for later and send it to a creator who needs to see it. Full report at the link in our bio.

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SWR Data @swr-data.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

As MelRose puts it, going on cam is real time market research with a built-in audience. Camming is not the whole business. But in a market this hostile, it might be the steadiest piece of it.

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SWR Data @swr-data.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

The reason is internal traffic. Cam platforms hand creators an audience, which means less exposure to the bans, shadowbans, debanking and algorithm shifts throttling everyone else.

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SWR Data @swr-data.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

The numbers: 📊 66% of cammers say their income rose or held steady this past year 📊 48% say earning got easier or stayed the same, vs just 30% of fan-site creators 📊 Only 14% name social media as their top source of new fans, because cam-site traffic does the work

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SWR Data @swr-data.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

We surveyed 550+ adult creators for our latest State of the Creator report, and cammers came out as the most resilient group in the market. While most creators say earning is getting harder, cammers are holding steady or growing.

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SWR Data @swr-data.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

Everyone says the creator economy is collapsing. The data found one group quietly winning. 👀

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SWR Data @swr-data.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

The War on Porn has been devastating to adult creator incomes. But one group is faring significantly better than the rest: cammers. SWR took a look behind the numbers to see how and why creators who cam are withstanding the censorship, shadowbans and other impacts better than other creators. 🧵

swrdata.substack.com

The Case for Camming

While fan platforms get all the attention, data shows cams as a powerful tool for creators, especially in a hostile market.

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Mike Stabile @mikestabile.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

"As attacks on the industry heat up, from banking discrimination to age-verification, cammers are weathering the storm better than other creators." SWR goes deep into the data on camming — and finds some safe harbors against the rampant censorship creators are facing.

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SWR Data @swr-data.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

Have questions? Insight? Hit us up or tag @mikestabile.bsky.social or @sexworkceo.bsky.social to let us know how this matches with what you're seeing in your own businesses. Data is only half the story.

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SWR Data @swr-data.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

Thanks to @stripchat.bsky.social, we're also again able to donate to @pineapplesupport.bskyverified.social SWR has been a labor of love, and we're working to make it sustainable, not only so that we can continue to get this data to creators, but also so that we can support community orgs.

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SWR Data @swr-data.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

Special thanks to @stripchat.bsky.social which is working with us to help understand the data and agreed to sponsor the post, allowing us to go much deeper than normal. They've been active supporters of this project from the beginning, and we're glad to have them as a partner.

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SWR Data @swr-data.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

Perhaps most interesting, the data suggest that creators who incorporate some streaming into another major non-cam income stream (such as clips or sexting) earn higher incomes. We'll be digging into this more in future stories.

swrdata.substack.com

The Case for Camming

While fan platforms get all the attention, data shows cams as a powerful tool for creators, especially in a hostile market.

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SWR Data @swr-data.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

The reason behind this “safe harbor” isn’t exactly a secret to cammers. Nearly 80% of cammers say a platform’s internal traffic game is crucial when choosing a platform. Cammers care about internal traffic more than any other single factor, and more than any other group does.

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SWR Data @swr-data.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

Cam-based creators were the least likely to suffer from social media censorship or encounter content restrictions on platforms, giving them some safe harbor at a time when other creators are facing declining traffic and increased restrictions from credit cards.

Graph showing 23% of creators ranking "social media censorship" as a top issue. Other sectors were much more impacted. 49% of fan based creators rank it high.

Graph: Creators using cams/livestreams were much less likely to encounter content restrictions on platforms than other groups. Just 17% rank it as a top issue.

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SWR Data @swr-data.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

Of all major creator income streams, cam-based creators were the most likely to their work had gotten easier (10%) or at least stayed the same (38%) over the past year. Fan-based creators said the opposite, with around 70% saying earning money had gotten harder.

Graph showing different income streams (cams, clips, customs, etc) and how creators in those sectors viewed the current market. Creators earning primarily through cams/livestreams were more likely to say earning money was getting easier or at least staying stable.

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SWR Data @swr-data.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

swrdata.substack.com

The Case for Camming

While fan platforms get all the attention, data shows cams as a powerful tool for creators, especially in a hostile market.

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SΞX WOЯK CΞO @sexworkceo.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

I feel like every adult creator needs to read this. The data doesn't lie and @swr-data.bsky.social has the receipts. Age verification laws are gutting our income and this article lays out exactly how: thebaffler.com/latest/papers-please-mcgrady

thebaffler.com

Papers, Please | Michael McGrady Jr.

Age verification laws have proven costly to freedom of expression for adult consumers and chill sexual speech.

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SΞX WOЯK CΞO @sexworkceo.bsky.social · 04/04/2026

They said age verification was about protecting kids. The research says it's cutting our income. Read this. If you participated in @swr-data.bsky.social surveys, you're in this story. Follow them and share:

buff.ly

Age-verification is hurting sex educators, study suggests

These laws aren't working to keep minors off adult sites, but they are hitting creators' incomes.

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SWR Data @swr-data.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

Nearly half of adult creators say their adult income declined over the past year. Most blamed the effects of the war on porn, including age-verification laws, increased censorship and piracy.

Graph showing a decline in creator incomes between 2025 and 2024. In 2024, more creators said their incomes were increasing rather than decreasing. A year later, the numbers were reversed, with nearly half of creators say their income has gone down.

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SWR Data @swr-data.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

Are you making less money this year than last? You're not alone. New data shows how age-verification laws have hurt the adult creator economy. SWR investigates whether the boom that fueled that creator economy is really faltering.

open.substack.com

How Age-Verification Laws Are Cutting Into Creator Income

Is the boom over? AV law take their toll on the creator economy.

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SWR Data @swr-data.bsky.social · 03/03/2026

“While some creators are making millions selling bathwater, the average income from adult sales is closer to $5,000 a month. Sex work is work, and at the heart of the adult creator community are hundreds of thousands of small, independent creators building their businesses one clip at a time.”

xbiz.com

SWR Data Publishes 'Creator Income' Report

Adult industry market research firm SWR Data has published a report on creator incomes.

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Mike Stabile @mikestabile.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

"The question isn’t just a matter of accounting or accuracy. The extremely low revenue figures equate sex work with trafficking, and are used to justify increased censorship, policing and banking discrimination. Better data is both a business and a political issue."

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