Pornhub is calling on its community to upload safe-for-work content (and get paid for it)

It’s time to dust off one of the age-old debates of the internet era: Can a platform known for pornographic videos become a viable home for safe-for-work creator content?

Pornhub is trying to do exactly that. The popular site owned by Aylo (formerly known as MindGeek) has launched a campaign that invites creators to share videos of any type with Pornhub viewers.

In the campaign video, a broken-down car looks like the end of the road for a mother and her son. Luckily, mom explains that she learned how to change a flat by watching how-to content uploaded by pornographic actress Natassia Dreams. The car starts moving again, and viewers are left to consider whether Pornhub can really be an alternative to the likes of YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram.

We’ve asked that question before. Nearly a decade ago, friction between creators and platforms led some musicians and firearms enthusiasts to set up shop on Pornhub. As part of its current campaign, Pornhub is once again positioning itself as a solution for creators who are banned or restricted on other platforms.

There are plenty of reasons why Pornhub’s offer is worth considering. Creators typically go to the platforms that can offer access to new audiences, and porn sites have never been lacking in the scale department. Pornhub claims to reach more than 130 million users each day. Some advertisers have taken advantage of the relaxed guidelines on racy platforms like OnlyFans, and Pornhub has a built-in premium subscription creators can link to their safe-for-work uploads. The recent arrival of Shorties — TikTok-style videos on Pornhub — provide yet another distribution option.

“Pornhub is a cultural access point where creators can build an audience around the full range of who they are,” said Pornhub VP of Brand and Community Alex Kekesi in a statement. “Creators invest time, creativity, and resources into their content. Safe-for-work uploads give them another way to earn from the broader range of what they create, including content they may have published elsewhere, giving content a second life and earn more.”

Clearly, some creators have already taken Pornhub up on its offer. On the platform, the popularity of searches like “gaming,” “fitness,” “cooking,” and “travel” have trended up over the past year.

Can those searches form the foundation of a safe-for-work hub that can rival the one OnlyFans has built? Pornhub clearly thinks so, and it is hoping that its new campaign will convince creators to try a, shall we say, unusual distribution strategy.

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