Prostitution in the Digital Age: Analyzing Data from Spanish Online Platforms

Over the past decade, prostitution has undergone a profound transformation attributed to the widespread use of smartphones and ubiquitous Internet access. This shift signifies a comprehensive reorganization of the practice, altering spaces, the development of encounters, and temporal dynamics. Despite this transformative shift, it is crucial to conceptualize prostitution as an institution—a system of regulated and enduring behavioral patterns. The existence of prostitution is intricately linked to the involvement of third parties who play roles in organizing and profiting from these transactions. Contrary to the notion of a less organized prostitution where intermediaries vanish, such as networks, pimps, families, madams, etc., the current landscape reveals a complex interplay among various prostitution models. This dynamic includes the emergence of new intermediaries, namely online platforms, perpetuating existing inequalities within the practice. This article explores the ongoing evolution of prostitution through a complete study of contact websites and client forums.