Article — When Visibility Fades: A 2026 Reality for Companions

[Olivia-69]

Sometimes I feel like we are watching the end of the American empire in real time — and sex workers are among the first to feel the impact.

I still remember 2020 so clearly. I was at the gym doing my leg press. I posted a simple little video — nothing sexual, nothing shocking. I was just in my underwear, dancing for a few seconds between sets, like any young woman would.
By the time I finished my second set, that post already had almost 500 likes. It took only five minutes.

Back then, people could actually see us online.
Back then, we still had a voice.

Today, it feels impossible.
No matter how original or innocent our posts are, the AI systems behind social media recognize us and push us down. Twitter used to be where over 80% of my clients discovered me. Now the platform barely shows my posts to anyone.

It’s strange and sad.
We are in 2026, and instead of moving forward, we are being forced backwards.
We now have to return to old escort platforms, expensive ads, or even freestyling in person — just because social media no longer allows us to be visible.

AI was supposed to help people.
But somehow it is punishing women like us, limiting us, and erasing us from the spaces we built.

It is crazy to see how far things have gone.
And yes, it feels a bit like the fall of something big — a system, a country, a culture that no longer understands the world it created.

But even with all of this, one thing is true:

We are strong.
We adapt.
We survive.

Even when visibility fades, we continue.

 

[Intrinsic]

Yep, we are in the caught in the middle of a big transition from the "old world" to the "new world".

 

[tier3]

Back then, people could actually see us online.

Until terb uses AI, you'll still be seen here

 

[OntarioHappyJohn]

I know this is a myopic perspective , but on a very micro, personal level, I used to be a regular “hobbyist”, usually seeing someone at least once a month, but I haven’t seen an escort since June, and honestly I can’t see that changing anytime soon.

Again this is a very personal anecdote because for me it’s not really about money. Something in my mind just sort of broke and the idea and reality of being with an escort just doesn’t excite me anymore. I started feeling bad about it. Certainly not because I was cheating on anyone, and not because I felt like I was taking advantage of anyone. It’s really not a moral or puritanical perspective. But after enough time, the physical gratification without any true emotional or intellectual equivalent just started to feel very cheap and cynical, if not outright depressing.

Now I only feel bad that my favorite eecort lost a regular customer. Most of the women in this industry, at least the ones that I met with, seem like very nice people who deserve happiness and a good life. But I don’t know if I believe this industry can truly provide that, just like I’ve come to feel that it can’t truly provide that to its customer base.

But all that being said, in theory there should be other men like the old me coming along to take my place. And I suppose that’s where the economy or online visibility discussion comes into things.

 

[MatureMan]

I know this is a myopic perspective , but on a very micro, personal level, I used to be a regular “hobbyist”, usually seeing someone at least once a month, but I haven’t seen an escort since June, and honestly I can’t see that changing anytime soon.

Again this is a very personal anecdote because for me it’s not really about money. Something in my mind just sort of broke and the idea and reality of being with an escort just doesn’t excite me anymore. I started feeling bad about it. Certainly not because I was cheating on anyone, and not because I felt like I was taking advantage of anyone. It’s really not a moral or puritanical perspective. But after enough time, the physical gratification without any true emotional or intellectual equivalent just started to feel very cheap and cynical, if not outright depressing.

Now I only feel bad that my favorite eecort lost a regular customer. Most of the women in this industry, at least the ones that I met with, seem like very nice people who deserve happiness and a good life. But I don’t know if I believe this industry can truly provide that, just like I’ve come to feel that it can’t truly provide that to its customer base.

But all that being said, in theory there should be other men like the old me coming along to take my place. And I suppose that’s where the economy or online visibility discussion comes into things.

I very much agree with your sentiment. I used to see escorts often back in 2021/22. But in recent years it’s been a handful times since, and only once in 2025. There just isn’t any more excitement and i much prefer meeting women in the “real” world.

 

[xix]

Sounds like a few people full filled their karma destiny, or completed it.

You could get tired of something / event. But two things will happen down the road. You could come back once every 5 years or never. Even if you think you didn't come back here, but you could still have this type of relationship in the civic world. Meaning you switch different relationships every five years. What is the difference? 1 hour or 5 years of emotional , adrenaline rush.

All the best.

 

[MatureMan]

Sounds like a few people full filled their karma destiny, or completed it.

You could get tired of something / event. But two things will happen down the road. You could come back once every 5 years or never. Even if you think you didn't come back here, but you could still have this type of relationship in the civic world. Meaning you switch different relationships every five years. What is the difference? 1 hour or 5 years of emotional , adrenaline rush.

All the best.

I dated a girl for 2 years during my marriage separation. The new relationship was full of chaos and excitement at the same time. She was 15 years you’re than me. We both didn’t know where the relationship was going so we broke up and got back together like 10 times. We had crazy feelings for each other but the complexity of my marital situation really weighed on her , understandably. So after every break up , I would go see an escort. And each time , even when some of those experiences were great, I did miss the emotional connection of having wild sex with a girlfriend that you’re crazy about. The relationship eventually ended but it was some crazy times for sure. !!

 

[seanzo]

In my eyes half the problem with these social media platforms is that they are based in the US and have to placate the moralizing hand of Congress. Allowing escorts on their platform will almost certainly draw the ire of the powers that be

 

[Olivia-69]

You must take into consideration that you are not the only potential client a companion should have. Honestly… yes, exactly. That’s why it’s important to understand client cycles in this industry.

When we were part of an open economy, a companion usually had seven types of clientele:

1. Old regulars – the ones who have been seeing you for 2+ years.
2. New regulars – someone who has been repeating for a few months.
3. The comeback clients – they used to be regulars years ago and suddenly reappear.
4. Casual clients – people who see you every 3 to 6 months.
5. Visitors – Americans, Canadians from other provinces, tourists, and the “one-time try” Ottawa gentlemen.
6. Brand-new clients – discovering you for the first time.
7. Clients who simply stopped – life changed, priorities shifted, or they quietly faded away.

Each group affects our income differently — some bring stability, while others act as important boosts.

And let’s be honest:
If you have shared more than just bedtime with your companion, treated her well, paid her fairly, and spoiled her the way you would any woman you respect, you should not feel like you were taking advantage of someone.

If you knew the kind of things I’ve done with my long-term regulars, you’d probably realize I’m the one who enjoyed it the most.

AI doesn’t just reduce our visibility — it breaks every category of clientele we normally rely on:

1. Old regulars:
   They used to follow us on social media and stay updated on our tours, new photos, or schedule changes.
   Now our posts don’t even show up in their feeds, so connection fades faster.
2. New regulars:
   These clients become regulars because they see our personality, our consistency, our presence online.
   If they can’t see us anymore, they don’t become regulars — the relationship dies before it even starts.
3. Comeback clients:
   Social media used to remind them we exist.
   A simple photo or tweet would spark a memory and bring them back.
   Now? AI hides everything, so they never get that reminder.
4. Casual clients (every 3–6 months):
   These ones only book when they see we’re touring or posting.
   If they never see the updates, they never book again.
   Another cycle broken.
5. Visitors (Americans, Canadians from other provinces, business travellers):
   These men found us because our posts reached new audiences.
   Twitter used to push our content far beyond our city.
   Today, our reach is blocked — no travel clients, no exposure outside Ottawa.
6. Brand-new clients:
   They simply cannot find us anymore.
   Even with safe posts, AI identifies and suppresses any companion-related content.
   New discovery is almost impossible.
7. Clients who stopped:
   Social media was the only bridge keeping us visible to them.
   A single post could make them return months or years later.
   Now that AI has cut that bridge, they stay gone.

So when AI reduces our visibility, it destroys every single type of the client ecosystem.
From the most loyal long-term regular to the curious newcomer; everyone loses access to us.

The sad part?
Sex workers built communities, relationships, trust, and real connections through these platforms.
And now we are being punished, erased, and pushed back into old systems that cost more and give us less.

Social media rules are slowly killing our industry’s natural cycle and one shadowban at a time.

 

[Patron]

That is quite an excellent post and analysis Olivia-69. The nature of message boards often make each of us feel more important than we are. And societal norms make some customers dislike the sex work industry. But there are always new customers.

Just curious if you have tried Bluesky? It seems to be doing its best to be open-minded and sex-worker friendly. It just needs to get the Johns and potential Johns migrated over. Speaking of societal norms, it is simply a major problem for American-based online platforms to not at least show regulators that they are trying to be disruptive to sex work. Fosta-Sesta is a wide-ranging law that can hold platforms to Criminal and Civil penalties. Twitter was of course purchased by a supposedly conservative / libertarian, which isn’t exactly reconcilable, anyway. Before him, it gave free advertising and promotion to sex workers, which isn’t exactly reconcilable more than you can say for fucking Facebook, which never did.

It is unfortunate that open-minded countries such as Canada and parts of Europe did not develop alternatives to the many U.S.-based online platforms. For a lot of ladies, updating their own websites that are hosted in Europe and participating in Terb, which is also hosted in Europe, are the only real answers. And trying to promote Bluesky and hoping the American government doesn’t put pressure on it to reduce sex worker visibility. You are certainly correct that many potential customers get interested in sex work when they first saw on Twitter, and even Craigslist and Backpage, that the industry isn’t how it is depicted in the mainstream media. Unfortunately, the U.S. government, regardless of political affiliation, wasn’t tolerant of that, and its businesses are no match for its government.

 

[GeeBee]

AI was supposed to help people.
But somehow it is punishing women like us, limiting us, and erasing us from the spaces we built.

A well thought out and interesting post, thank you Olivia. I’m already using Bluesky more and more and I hope it remains a useful tool for SP’s and clients.

But I will disagree with this one statement. AI was never supposed to help people, no matter what it’s benefits like medical breakthroughs might be. AI is about Making money and controlling the lives of others. Facial recognition tech, deep fakes, virtual assistants that influence the way people think and consume, they are all about control.

Old man shouting at traffic rant complete

 

[Olivia-69]

That is quite an excellent post and analysis Olivia-69. The nature of message boards often make each of us feel more important than we are. And societal norms make some customers dislike the sex work industry. But there are always new customers.

Just curious if you have tried Bluesky? It seems to be doing its best to be open-minded and sex-worker friendly. It just needs to get the Johns and potential Johns migrated over. Speaking of societal norms, it is simply a major problem for American-based online platforms to not at least show regulators that they are trying to be disruptive to sex work. Fosta-Sesta is a wide-ranging law that can hold platforms to Criminal and Civil penalties. Twitter was of course purchased by a supposedly conservative / libertarian, which isn’t exactly reconcilable, anyway. Before him, it gave free advertising and promotion to sex workers, which isn’t exactly reconcilable more than you can say for fucking Facebook, which never did.

It is unfortunate that open-minded countries such as Canada and parts of Europe did not develop alternatives to the many U.S.-based online platforms. For a lot of ladies, updating their own websites that are hosted in Europe and participating in Terb, which is also hosted in Europe, are the only real answers. And trying to promote Bluesky and hoping the American government doesn’t put pressure on it to reduce sex worker visibility. You are certainly correct that many potential customers get interested in sex work when they first saw on Twitter, and even Craigslist and Backpage, that the industry isn’t how it is depicted in the mainstream media. Unfortunately, the U.S. government, regardless of political affiliation, wasn’t tolerant of that, and its businesses are no match for its government.

A well thought out and interesting post, thank you Olivia. I’m already using Bluesky more and more and I hope it remains a useful tool for SP’s and clients.

But I will disagree with this one statement. AI was never supposed to help people, no matter what it’s benefits like medical breakthroughs might be. AI is about Making money and controlling the lives of others. Facial recognition tech, deep fakes, virtual assistants that influence the way people think and consume, they are all about control.

Old man shouting at traffic rant complete

I haven’t had any new clients come from Bluesky. To be honest, I can’t really talk positively about it yet. I also can’t post lingerie pictures there because they get labeled as adult content, which reduces my exposure even more.

Right now, I don’t really see the benefit of using Bluesky — maybe later, if the platform changes or becomes more flexible.

 

[kherg007]

Fair dinkum I love the analysis!

 

[Olivia-69]

Plus, I’m being banned from dating websites because some men with fragile egos can’t handle a respectful rejection. As soon as I say, “Based on the difference in what we’re looking for, I’m not interested,” suddenly they decide to report me simply because I said no or didn’t agree with their “donation offer.” It’s becoming ridiculous. Let women be free…

 

[Climberx]

Time to start handing out business cards like the good old days. I miss the days of being approached and secretly getting a woman's number. The ads and Twitter nowadays are boring. The thrill of seeing escorts isnt what it once was.

 

[BennyhillTO]

Is it slow for the ladies right now? I've had a few providers reach out to me the last week or so. Usually when I get messages from regulars that means they aren't very busy. I figured Dec would usually be busy because guys want to see there favorite over the holiday's

 

[lunaseraphim]

Personally I am very anti AI for various reasons, but I feel like there are other reasons for this. For instance advertising platforms becoming more and more obsolete, social media companies banning sex workers, etc. My X account got suspended for the 2nd time this year.. I had 5000 followers, now I have just a few. You have to be really aggressive with marketing and you have to be present on various platforms in order to be seen by clients. Things aren't slow for me right now, but they definitely could be in just a few weeks as we are entering the low season..

 

[Daddy2021]

You must take into consideration that you are not the only potential client a companion should have. Honestly… yes, exactly. That’s why it’s important to understand client cycles in this industry.

When we were part of an open economy, a companion usually had seven types of clientele:

1. Old regulars – the ones who have been seeing you for 2+ years.
2. New regulars – someone who has been repeating for a few months.
3. The comeback clients – they used to be regulars years ago and suddenly reappear.
4. Casual clients – people who see you every 3 to 6 months.
5. Visitors – Americans, Canadians from other provinces, tourists, and the “one-time try” Ottawa gentlemen.
6. Brand-new clients – discovering you for the first time.
7. Clients who simply stopped – life changed, priorities shifted, or they quietly faded away.

Each group affects our income differently — some bring stability, while others act as important boosts.

And let’s be honest:
If you have shared more than just bedtime with your companion, treated her well, paid her fairly, and spoiled her the way you would any woman you respect, you should not feel like you were taking advantage of someone.

If you knew the kind of things I’ve done with my long-term regulars, you’d probably realize I’m the one who enjoyed it the most.

AI doesn’t just reduce our visibility — it breaks every category of clientele we normally rely on:

1. Old regulars:
   They used to follow us on social media and stay updated on our tours, new photos, or schedule changes.
   Now our posts don’t even show up in their feeds, so connection fades faster.
2. New regulars:
   These clients become regulars because they see our personality, our consistency, our presence online.
   If they can’t see us anymore, they don’t become regulars — the relationship dies before it even starts.
3. Comeback clients:
   Social media used to remind them we exist.
   A simple photo or tweet would spark a memory and bring them back.
   Now? AI hides everything, so they never get that reminder.
4. Casual clients (every 3–6 months):
   These ones only book when they see we’re touring or posting.
   If they never see the updates, they never book again.
   Another cycle broken.
5. Visitors (Americans, Canadians from other provinces, business travellers):
   These men found us because our posts reached new audiences.
   Twitter used to push our content far beyond our city.
   Today, our reach is blocked — no travel clients, no exposure outside Ottawa.
6. Brand-new clients:
   They simply cannot find us anymore.
   Even with safe posts, AI identifies and suppresses any companion-related content.
   New discovery is almost impossible.
7. Clients who stopped:
   Social media was the only bridge keeping us visible to them.
   A single post could make them return months or years later.
   Now that AI has cut that bridge, they stay gone.

So when AI reduces our visibility, it destroys every single type of the client ecosystem.
From the most loyal long-term regular to the curious newcomer; everyone loses access to us.

The sad part?
Sex workers built communities, relationships, trust, and real connections through these platforms.
And now we are being punished, erased, and pushed back into old systems that cost more and give us less.

Social media rules are slowly killing our industry’s natural cycle and one shadowban at a time.

Before social media became normal for sex work advertising the system still worked somehow. Ladies had old regulars, returning regulars, new regulars, pop in… I think depending on social media only as a way to see clients is shooting yourself in the foot. There has to be other ways to be seen.

 

[BobbyRyan81]

Personally I am very anti AI for various reasons, but I feel like there are other reasons for this. For instance advertising platforms becoming more and more obsolete, social media companies banning sex workers, etc. My X account got suspended for the 2nd time this year.. I had 5000 followers, now I have just a few. You have to be really aggressive with marketing and you have to be present on various platforms in order to be seen by clients. Things aren't slow for me right now, but they definitely could be in just a few weeks as we are entering the low season..

That is unfortunate i use X to find providers

 

[lunaseraphim]

Before social media became normal for sex work advertising the system still worked somehow. Ladies had old regulars, returning regulars, new regulars, pop in… I think depending on social media only as a way to see clients is shooting yourself in the foot. There has to be other ways to be seen.

We can only do so much. As an independent worker I don't want to freestyle or even worse, work from the street, and I think that's okay. In the past ladies used newspaper ads but that's definitely not ideal, for many reasons. There was also a lot less competition in the past.. Sex work isn't as taboo as it used to be and the economy is getting worse and worse so more women turn to the industry. I don't know the whole history and I've only been in the business for 4 years, but it seems to me that the internet did a lot of good things both for clients and providers yet it's also causing issues..

That is unfortunate i use X to find providers

You can make a bluesky account, most of us are migrating there because the policies are getting stricter and stricter on X.. they want us out. Same thing with instagram. I had an account and it got banned after a couple of weeks. I wasn't even posting nudity or my schedule or anything like that