le Shaw Partners with researchers to assess Cam Model health, and how technology is empowering

Camming is a billion-dollar industry built on models. Yet, little is known about their experience. This study will assess the health, work conditions, and motivations of cam models, as well as how technology empowers them. 

The primary researcher is Dr. Jessica Szczuka, who leads the INTITEC (Intimacy with and through Technology) research group, which is affiliated with the Chair of Social Psychology: Media and Communication at the University of Duisburg-Essen. Her research focuses on how digitalization shapes the experience and concept of love and sexuality. She pays particular attention to the perception and intimate communication with artificial entities like chatbots, conversational agents, and voice assistants. Additionally, she explores intimate interactions between people facilitated by new media. Dr. Szczuka’s academic journey began with interdisciplinary studies in psychology and computer science, culminating in a Ph.D. in human-computer interaction. Her dissertation delved into the social perception of sexualized robots. 

Also working on the project is Maria Santaguida, Ph.D. candidate in Psychology, Research Fellow at the Astrosexological Research Institute and a Lecturer in the Department of Psychology at Concordia University. They specialize in human sexuality, with a focus on technology-based sexuality, Erobotics, and digital sexual behaviour. Their research explores the applications and implications of emerging sexual technologies (e.g., virtual partners, erotic chatbots, and sex robots) on Earth and in space.

We also have the privilege of Paula Ebner on the project. She is a doctoral researcher at the University of Duisburg-Essen. Her academic journey started with a bachelor´s degree in psychology at Maastricht University, which is where she first delved into sex research, investigating the impact of sexual synchrony on sexual functioning. She stayed at Maastricht University, completing a research master´s in legal psychology. In 2023, Paula joined the junior research group INTITEC, merging her legal background with her research experience on sexual intimacy.  

Paula Ebner´s research interests include non-consensual forms of porn and the exploration of erotic roleplay with chatbots. For her dissertation project, she chose to investigate the influence of romantic and sexual fantasies on parasocial relationships with chatbots, bringing attention to this previously unexplored dimension of human-AI interaction.