15 years ago Louis Theroux turned the cameras on the pornography makers and found a thriving industry. He returned recently to find that the internet had withered it away. Highlights of his article include:

• Big-name girls used to make $3,000. Now not only do they make much less, there are fewer ‘big-name’ girls around.
• Youtube like sites have risen that allow people to upload (often pirated) and watch porn films for free. This has killed the professional porn industry.
• Porn sites have increasingly tried to survive by making higher quality products. This is not all that different from the strategy of news organizations trying to survive in a world where the internet has changed expectations.
• Some of these high quality porn movies include parodies of famous films. One film called Iron Man XXX comes in a glossy two disc set. The Iron Man costume used on set cost $3,000.
• Women now use porn as a way to advertise private engagements where they can make much more money having sex with individual clients.
• It’s even harder for men. Fees have fallen to $150 or lower.

To read more including the moral issues related to the matter, the connection between Justin Timberlake and porn, when the tailspin started, the role of loyalty, changing norms, how studios have cut down on costs, the fate of Jon Dough, the inspiration provided by Hilton and Kardashian, the risks and irresponsibility of private engagements, and thoughts on where the industry may go, click here.

Source: Guardian

Via: Marginal Revolution