Critical Discourse Analysis of the ToS Documents of BongaCams, LiveJasmin and Chaturbate Sex Platforms

This study uses critical discourse analysis to examine the ToS documents of LiveJasmin, Chaturbate, and BongaCams in order to determine how these platforms construct normative constructions about camming. This study focuses on the way that they use euphemistic language and exclude kinky sexual behaviours like autoerotic stimulation, fisting and stripping. It also examines the gendered nature in which webcam performers perform gigs.

Legality

The legality of camming, as with any gig work, is complex. Gig work scholars have pointed out that the definitions of what constitutes a job vary widely across countries and contexts. It is important to be aware of these differences but it is also important to analyze the normative constructions which shape these contracts. In this paper, I do this by analysing the policies for users of three global webcam sex platforms. I examine the ToS documents of BongaCams, LiveJasmin and Chaturbate to determine how they construct camming as a form of gig work.

While the ToS documents analysed by this research do not explicitly mention sex, they limit sexual expression and perpetuate normative standards. They use euphemistic language and explicitly distance camming from (full service) sex work, stating that they 'will not be responsible for any losses, profits or revenues' and that performers are 'not required to perform a particular act' (BongaCams, 2020b; LiveJasmin, 2020a; Chaturbate, 2020b). The denial of camming as work limits the ability of webcammers to earn money and exposes them to financial risk.

Privacy

For this study, we analysed the ToS documents for audience members and webcam performers on three of the dominant camming platforms: BongaCams', LiveJasmin's and Chaturbate's. The policies are the mandatory terms and conditions that users and performers must agree to before using the platforms. The documents were downloaded in December 2020 from each website.

The ToS agreements may not mention sex explicitly, but their specifics on obscenity indicate that they enforce sexual norms in the online world. All three platforms, for example, prohibit 'prostitution style behaviours' (BongaCams 2020b). The use of words such as 'blood' and genitals in conjunction with prohibitions suggest that these websites actively distance themselves from full-service sexual work.

Moreover, they also outlaw more kinky sexual behaviours such as fisting, erotic asphyxiation, clitocnial ejection, and the use of overly large sex toys. These euphemistic descriptions reinforce heteronormative ideals of 'nonreproductive straight sex without fetishes or transactions'. Thus, the ToS documents are useful tools for articulating norms in the camming industry and constructing what gig work should be like.