opinion

Bad Apples

An open letter to the Bad Apples that use the adult Internet industry in an attempt to get rich quick:

OK, we get it; you are good with exploiting vulnerable systems, and you think that any traffic is good traffic.

It’s just that you are wrong about the traffic part — absolutely, positively, dead wrong.

Whatever you may think about pornography, there is no question that a significant percentage of the human population doesn’t approve of what our industry does and would just as soon never see our products.

Even if we were all highly ethical businessmen, even if we all exercised great care in all our promotional efforts, there would be those who would seek to shut us down, for any number of reasons.

The last thing we need in a business climate like this — in which we are marketing material that teeters on the edge of social acceptability — is for you Bad Apples to keep giving lawmakers and the public at large more reasons to contemplate restricting and regulating our trade out of existence.

So, the next time you get the bright idea of hacking USAID servers to serve up some porn, or hijacking a governmental sub-domain, or engaging in a bit of typo-squatting, do us all a favor and just DROP DEAD, instead.

Yours truly,
Sick of All Your BS

Copyright © 2026 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More Articles

opinion

Making the Case for Network Tokens in Recurring Billing

A declined transaction isn’t just a technical error; it’s lost revenue you fought hard to earn. But here’s some good news for adult merchants: The same technology that helps the world’s largest subscription services smoothly process millions of monthly subscriptions is now available to you as well.

Jonathan Corona ·
opinion

Exploring the Shift Toward Pleasure Products Designed for All Bodies

The last few years have seen a positive change in our industry, as more brands and innovators are finally prioritizing accessibility. Whether they call it inclusive design, adaptive pleasure or accessible intimacy, the aim remains the same: Pleasure should be accessible to everyone, including people with limited mobility or physical disabilities.

Alexandra Bouchard ·
opinion

Navigating Age Verification Laws Without Disrupting Revenue

With age verification laws now firmly in place across multiple markets, merchants are asking practical questions: How is this affecting traffic? What happens during onboarding? Which approaches are proving workable in real payment flows?

Cathy Beardsley ·
opinion

How January Retail Sales Prime the Pump for Valentine's Day

January may look quiet on paper, but anyone who has worked in a pleasure store knows that the first month of the year has a very particular energy.

Rin Musick ·
profile

WIA: Corrinne Musick Fosters Harmonious Retail Relations at Sportsheets

Wherever there’s a retailer needing guidance, a trade show booth crowded with buyers or a curious YouTube viewer looking for sex education, there you’ll find Sportsheets’ traveling pleasure product expert, Corrine Musick.

Colleen Godin ·
opinion

A Creator's Guide to Post-Event Networking

In the adult industry, talent, creativity and individuality are vital, but true longevity often comes from the connections you make — and how well you nurture them. Meeting people at expos and conferences, or on online forums, is only the first step. What strengthens a career and reputation is how you maintain those relationships over time. Networking isn’t about collecting contacts; it’s about cultivating trust, offering value and building mutual support in an industry that thrives on collaboration and authenticity.

Mikayela Miller ·
opinion

Tips for Testing Content to Maximize Conversions

Everyone’s looking for what’s next, hot and new. That’s understandable. Who doesn’t want to be on the cutting edge, riding the next wave? But before you rush to reinvent yourself, remember this: The most successful creators aren’t the ones chasing trends. They’re the ones who take the time to figure out what actually works before committing to big changes.

Megan Stokes ·
profile

Eversense Founder Matty Hennessy Discusses Engineering Products for Trans Bodies

For transgender folks shopping for pleasure products, it can be a daunting challenge to find items that accommodate their changing bodies, address their specific needs and support gender affirmation during intimacy.

Celine Shore ·
opinion

How Adult Businesses Can Navigate Global Compliance Demands

The internet has made the world feel small. Case in point: Adult websites based in the U.S. are now getting letters from regulators demanding compliance with foreign laws, even if they don’t operate in those countries. Meanwhile, some U.S. website operators dealing with the patchwork of state-level age verification laws have considered incorporating offshore in the hopes of avoiding these new obligations — but even operators with no physical presence in the U.S. have been sued or threatened with claims for not following state AV laws.

Larry Walters ·
opinion

Top Tips for Bulletproof Creator Management Contracts

The creator management business is booming. Every week, it seems, a new agency emerges, promising to turn creators into stars, automate their fan interactions or triple their revenue through “secret” social strategies. The reality? Many of these agencies are operating with contracts that wouldn’t survive a single serious dispute — if they even have contracts at all.

Corey D. Silverstein ·
Show More