A cam girl, also known as a webcam model or chat-girl, is a person who poses for money in front of a camera online. Many cam girls start their careers when they are as young as 13. But these girls, who may be barely 18 themselves, are often subjected to a world of sexual abuse and exploitation.
These girls are paid to perform on live webcam, and the men who watch them may be anything from a curious friend to a predatory perv. Some of these young women are forced to perform sex acts that are painful and humiliating, and some are even made to do things they don’t want to do in order to get the attention of their fans.
The girls work in studios that are often dirty, cramped and full of cockroaches. The studios may also use screen capturing software to secretly take pictures or record videos of their models. The photos and videos, sometimes called pirated content, are then spread on social media or sold on adult porn sites. The models are then pressured into having sex with their customers in person, which is illegal and dangerous for both the model and the client. Three former cam models who spoke with Dateline on condition of anonymity say they have been manipulated, threatened and coerced into this practice, which is often referred to as a “meet-up.”
Some girls are tricked by studio middlemen into breaking their boundaries. The women interviewed say these people are often supervisors, trainers or chatters who write on behalf of the models during a livestream. Others are plied with alcohol by their managers or studio owners, in an effort to make them less inhibited and more likely to agree to requests for nudity or other kinds of sexual activity. Some of these girls have even been forced to perform with multiple men at one time.
In addition to being exploited by men, many of the 18 year old camgirls are subjected to sexual abuse at their own studios. Despite the fact that cam sites and their owners are quick to say that all of their models are over 18 and consenting, these young women are subjected to sexual harassment, sexual assault and other forms of sexual violence.
There are many reasons why young girls choose to become camgirls, including the desire for independence and financial freedom. According to the website O Camgirl, girls may also be interested in making a living as a tween sex doll or other types of fetish. They may also enjoy the intimacy of working with a single customer in a private room. They may also find that the camgirl lifestyle helps them build confidence and self-esteem. The girls on the site earn cash to keep their viewers entertained, so they have incentive to keep them happy and coming back for more. But, the women on O Camgirl warn, it’s not an easy job and they should know that whatever they do in front of the camera can end up anywhere on the Internet – forever.