Sex Work Advertising: What’s Legal, What’s Dangerous, and How to Stay Safe

When you talk about sex work advertising, the promotion of sexual services for payment, often through digital platforms or public spaces. Also known as prostitution marketing, it’s one of the most legally risky forms of online speech in the UK and beyond. It’s not just about posting a photo or writing a bio—it’s about survival. Every ad, every message, every platform choice carries real consequences: arrest, deplatforming, violence, or worse. And yet, millions of sex workers rely on advertising just to pay rent, feed themselves, or escape abusive situations.

The biggest shift in recent years isn’t in the laws—it’s in how CDA 230, a U.S. law that shields online platforms from legal liability for user-generated content is being attacked. Even though it’s American, its collapse affects sex workers everywhere. When platforms like Craigslist or Backpage shut down, workers don’t vanish—they go darker, riskier, and harder to reach. Meanwhile, solicitation laws, laws that target the act of offering or seeking sexual services still punish workers for saying "I’m available"—even when they’re not on the street. These laws don’t stop demand. They just make the work more dangerous.

Advertising isn’t just about finding clients. It’s about control. Using discreet alarms, GPS trackers, and encrypted apps isn’t paranoia—it’s standard practice. Workers who advertise online need to know how to spot impersonators, avoid payment scams, and protect their identity. Platforms that claim to be "sex worker friendly" often change policies overnight, leaving people without income and no recourse. And if you’re in the UK, you’re not protected by CDA 230—but you’re still caught in the same web of fear, misinformation, and criminalization.

What you’ll find here isn’t theory. It’s real advice from workers who’ve been arrested, deplatformed, and chased off apps. You’ll read about how to screen environments before meeting clients, what to say during a police encounter, and how to clear a criminal record after a conviction. You’ll see how legal models like decriminalization actually reduce violence—and why legalization often makes things worse. And you’ll learn why the same tools that help a tour guide manage a group in Dubai can save a sex worker’s life in Manchester.