Digital transformations in sex work: A scoping review of social media use by female sex workers in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

IntroductionFemale Sex Workers in Low- and Middle-Income Countries face increased risks of violence, exploitation, stigma, and limited access to healthcare, leading to vulnerability in their communities. Modern communication technologies have transformed FSW interactions with clients, facilitating easier and more accessible connections. This scoping review explores the use of social media by women involved in sex work in Low and middle-income countries to understand how communication technologies have been adopted and exploited to engage with various stakeholders in the industry. MethodologyWe conducted a scoping review following a pre-defined eligibility criterion, systematically searching multiple databases (PubMed, Global Health, Medline, CINAHL, Google Scholar) for English articles published between 1991 and 2024. Two reviewers screened all identified articles and eliminated duplicates using Covidence software. Thematic analysis was performed using NVivo 12 to identify key themes. ResultsThe search yielded 9,442 articles with eight articles meeting the eligibility criteria for inclusion. Social media was reported to provide an opportunity for women to expand their clientele beyond their immediate geographical confines increasing their income. Use of social media reduced womens exposure to health risks due to reduced physical contact with clients reducing exposure to HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. Social media also increased physical safety through reduced exposure to violence and increased capacity to screen clients prior to any physical contact. Despite these advantages, women who use social media for selling sex face cyber security risks including the non-consensual dissemination of their pictures and videos, online harassment, and bullying. ConclusionThe scoping review found that there is limited research on womens usage of social media in sex work in LMIC. Social media empowered female sex workers but also posed risks to their autonomy and mental health. Further research is needed to understand the challenges these women face to inform effective policies and practices.