WTF happened?!
The tech has evolved, but the craft remains the same.
A brief recap:
Our SMS functionality was abruptly stopped on Monday, November 7th due to an unannounced account suspension which also effected our phone call and video call services. Thankfully, we had a contingency plan in place for this and our development team was able to deploy a site update to restore the calling features in a matter of hours.
While we have been without SMS for over two weeks now, we’re happy to report that there has been no reduction in site traffic or user spending. On several days, we’ve actually seen an uptick in site activity and user spending.
The disruption was a surprise, but change was inevitable due to new policies in the telecom space. The fact is, it’s now virtually impossible for a sexting platform to operate at scale using SMS under the new policies set forth by the cell phone carriers and therefore migrating to a web and app-based platform was essential to maintain functionality for our models.
SextPanther officially says goodbye to SMS amid industry-wide concerns about sex work censorship. App and web-based solutions provide greater freedom of use with less concern about SMS throttling, filtering, and other carrier issues.
So now what?
SextPanther will continue to make improvements on the site, but we want to know what new features you’d like to see on the platform, especially in light of the loss of SMS messaging. Your input is most welcome 🙏
Stay informed
Outages are stressful for all of us who rely on SextPanther, and this stress can be made worse when rumors and uncertainty circulate on social media. If you’re ever unsure on what’s going on and how it effects you, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our Model Support Team by emailing models@sextpanther.com or shooting us a DM on Twitter.
We stand behind our statements in the recent article published by VICE News. While we are not in love with the title, there are some important takeaways.
Huge shoutout to MelRose Michaels, founder of SexWorkCEO! She hosted a Twitter Space to talk about recent events with her subscribers. In her discussion, she highlights her experience on the platform and points out that there are definitely advantages to using the web or app.
Pineapple Support - SextPanther Steps up to Silver
We are proud to announce that SextPanther has increased its Pineapple Support Sponsorship to the Silver Level. Pineapple Support provides 24/7 online, emotional support as well as free and subsidized professional therapy and advice to all performers and producers who have been active in the adult online industry within the past 6 months.