The digitization of the sexual exploitation industry: An exploratory study on the phenomenon of sugardating in Spain

Abstract

Spain, despite being one of the leading countries in gender equality in Europe, presents an increase in gender and sexual (cyber)violence with special emphasis on rape. It is the first country in Europe with the highest access to prostitution, the main destination for sex tourism and the second in consumption and demand for pornography.
This reality with digitalization has been amplified, mainly the violence facilitated through platforms where phenomena such as “sugardating” are developed, which romanticizes and invisibilizes the triad pornography, prostitution and trafficking of women.
This exploratory research analyzes the phenomenon of sugardating in the Spanish state and the specific platforms where it develops through digital ethnographic analysis. The results show a significant impact on young women and adult men, indicating that digitalization is favoring the growth and extension of the sexual exploitation industry and the so-called “digital patriarchy”.
These platforms such as “SugarDaddyEspaña”, have allowed the massive transfer of the sexual exploitation industry to the digital realm, appearing an organized offer of prostitution and pornography ads and an unprecedented accessibility with the 24/7 format.
This research and article arises to delve into this mutation that requires the analysis and identification of new forms, places, purposes, modes of access, causes of how, when, where and how many people are involved.