Porn Stars’ Instagram Accounts Targeted By Hackers: ‘I Was Locked Out’ (Daily Beast)

Read the full article by Aurora Snow at TheDailyBeast.com

Social media dependency has grown exponentially over the last decade. The majority of online adults have at least one social media account, if not more. In this virtual world we’re making friends, buying products, even interacting with our favorite brands and companies in a way that feels very personable. As consumers we want to feel as if we’re making a choice, buying what we have ties to, which makes social media imperative for many entrepreneurs—including porn stars.

A large part of an adult performer’s job consists of managing social media, both to boost future bookings and to create a connection with fans. Whether piracy or tube sites are to blame, one thing’s clear: there’s not much money for performers following a traditional porn star path. To be successful, one must build a loyal following—engaging fans via social media to sell products, cam shows, site subscriptions, and strip club tour dates. Some of the women noted a greater conversion rate on Instagram when compared to other platforms, making it a favored marketing tool despite the social media platform’s conservative stance on posting nudity. According to online statistics, Instagram drives the “most engagement per post compared to any social network—84 times more than Twitter, 54 times more than Pinterest and 10 times more than Facebook.”

For many sex workers, Instagram has become a crucial component to generating income. When an account is deleted or locked it’s not just an inconvenience, it’s financially impactful. Alana Luv, the AVN 2017 Nominee for Hottest MILF, had been hacked and lost access to her Instagram account not once, but twice. Luv says the person who snatched her account made changes to her name and settings, among other things. The second time was worse.

Adult actress Raven Hart faced similar issues when a hacker took control of her Instagram account. Hart says after multiple attempts to contact Instagram with no response or support from the social media giant she gave up and started a new account, building up her followers all over again. Since her faith in the platform has been shaken, Hart now takes additional precautions in how she accesses and posts on the account. “I really cannot trust their site anymore. I’d heard things about them and now I’ve seen it,” says Hart.