The present study asks: How does Katie Morgan construct and negotiate a hybrid public persona on Melztube? RQ2: What affordances and constraints of the Melztube platform shape this persona? RQ3: What does this case reveal about the evolving relationship between adult‑industry labor and influencer economies? 2. Literature Review 2.1. Adult‑Industry Labor and Digital Migration Scholars have documented a shift from “studio‑bound” porn production toward de‑centralised, creator‑centric models (Bernstein, 2018; McKee, 2021). The “performer‑as‑producer” paradigm foregrounds autonomy, but also introduces new precarity linked to platform policies and algorithmic visibility (Gillespie, 2020). 2.2. Influencer Culture and “Expert‑Influencer” Capital Influencer studies identify a move from lifestyle branding to expert‑influencer positioning, whereby creators claim authority in niche fields (Abidin, 2022). In the context of sexuality, “sex‑positive influencers” leverage personal experience to educate audiences, thereby re‑legitimising erotic knowledge (Gill & Ryu, 2020). 2.3. Platform Governance of Adult Content Mainstream platforms (YouTube, Instagram) enforce strict community‑guidelines that ban explicit sexual content, prompting the emergence of “alternative” platforms (e.g., OnlyFans, ManyVids, Melztube). These services often employ tiered moderation and revenue‑share models designed to balance creator freedom with advertiser concerns (Hernandez & Lee, 2023). 2.4. The “Stigma Management” of Former Porn Performers Stigma theory (Goffman, 1963) and its modern extensions explain how former sex workers engage in “identity renegotiation” to mitigate moral condemnation (Benson, 2019). Media visibility and self‑disclosure are key strategies for “stigma repair” (Kaufman, 2020).
Katie Morgan (b. 1978) is a salient example of this transition. After a ten‑year career in the U.S. adult film industry (2000–2010) and a subsequent mainstream breakthrough via the comedy film The 40‑Year‑Old Virgin (2005) and later television appearances, Morgan re‑entered the digital sphere in 2022 by launching an official channel on Melztube. Her channel blends formats (fitness, wellness, cooking) with “industry‑education” segments (production backstage tours, discussions on consent, and sex‑worker rights). melztube katie morgan
From Porn‑Star to Digital Influencer: A Critical Examination of Katie Morgan’s Presence on the Melztube Platform The present study asks: How does Katie Morgan
[Your Name] – Department of Media & Cultural Studies, [University] discussions on consent