Guys, this is a separate type of adult entertainment that can be called the logical evolution in the development of the porn industry. The term “Cams” refers to live-streaming adult performances where a model (or models) broadcast themselves in real time via webcam (or phone) to an audience of viewers. These performances may involve nudity, erotic interaction, private shows, tip-based requests, and chatroom participation. The audience watches live and often interacts via chat, tips, tokens, gifts, or private sessions.

Interactive online shows allow viewers and models to communicate via chat, voice, and camera. In public rooms, tips and comments are visible, and models actively react to them (responding, gasping when a tip activates a vibrator), forming a community of regular fans — now referred to as “users.”

This kind of paid interaction is not new — its predecessors were paid dances in the early 20th century and contact shows in strip clubs during the 1970s–1980s.

Modern cam models behave like entrepreneurs: they use social media (Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, etc.) to attract and retain their audience. The main difference from traditional pornography is interactivity and the sense of “virtual friendship” between model and viewer, creating a new form of intimacy like “somewhere between sex work and a relationship”.

In the modern world, the industry works like this: there are streaming platforms and independent models who have a commercial relationship with the platform, which provides them access to its service in exchange for a certain commission.

The Camming Industry: Part of a Bigger Story — and What the Wild West Has to Do With It

Europe, mid-19th century. The hottest form of entertainment back then? Burlesque theatre. (Yes, the same word that came from the Italian burlesco and the French burlesque, meaning “a joke.”) Originally, it evolved from poetic burlesque — a genre that goes all the way back to ancient times.

Burlesque shows combined dance, comedy, circus acts, and witty monologues (sound familiar?). And of course, there was the art of undressing — done playfully, tastefully, and with a wink. No surprise, burlesque is rightfully considered the grandmother of modern striptease.

Fast forward to San Francisco, California, early 20th century. Among men, places called Barbary Coast Dance Halls were all the rage — also known as Forty-Nine Dance Halls, named after 1849, the year the Gold Rush began in the region and brought a wave of gold diggers (in every sense of the word). Yeah, this was the real Wild West, just with more music, whiskey, and glitter.

Then came America in the 1920s–1930s, and the spotlight shifted to a new form of entertainment — the Taxi Dance Hall. The setup was simple: a taxi dancer — usually a young, beautiful woman — and a patron who wanted to dance with her. To do so, he had to buy a ticket and hand it to the dancer, who would then dance with him until the song ended. Dancers earned a commission from every ticket, while the hall itself provided the dance floor and the music.