As more people stay home under the coronavirus’s continued global takeover, the internet at large is abuzz with activity. Perhaps nowhere more so than adult cam sites, where performers are busy interacting with fans from a responsible social distance. And, in these unprecedented times, webcam sites are trying unprecedented things to help those in need—of a place to hang out or a place to make money during the economic downturn.

On March 25, CamSoda, a leading adult webcam platform, launched CamSodaLive, “a new, free service that allows lifestyle and entertainment businesses to broadcast and monetize content for free,” reported Detroit-area radio station 97.1 The Ticket. Its first show? A free stand-up comedy show from Stand Up NY, billed as “a leading New York City comedy club that has featured comic legends like Chris Rock, Kevin Hart and Artie Lange, and many others.” The inaugural Stand Up NY Camsoda show featured, fittingly, retired adult performer Alia Janine, as well as Dante Nero, Sherrod Small, and others. 

Citing the pandemic’s “terrible impact on businesses, especially those in the entertainment space, who have been forced to shut their doors,” CamSoda’s VP Daryn Parker, said, “In an effort to provide consumers with some top-of-line entertainment remotely, and to enable businesses to earn money, we’re leveraging our technology that allows adult entertainers to broadcast to millions annually and  launching CamSodaLive.”

CamSodaLive invites other non-adult entertainers and businesses to use the platform to stay in business while the world stays in quarantine. The first Stand Up NY show was free, but as The Ticket reported, “Participating businesses can charge for users to access the broadcast and choose the rates. They will also be able to interact with users in [the] chat room.”

Meanwhile, IsMyGirl, a far less established adult camming site, is trying to recruit laid-off McDonald’s employees with the lure of paychecks during the economic downturn. Over the past week, McDonalds has announced massive closures of locations in the UK and Ireland, and in the US, nearly half a million employees are facing layoffs. 

With all those workers out of paychecks, IsMyGirl founder Evan Seinfeld told Vice, camming offers a chance to get paid. Vice reported that, in a press release, the company wrote, “In an effort to help McDonald’s employees, and to make sure they can continue to provide for themselves and their families, we want to help provide them with a legitimate option. IsMyGirl has offered all McDonalds workers an exclusive offer to earn 90 percent of their proceeds (after credit card processing).”

“IsMyGirl has really taken off during this crisis,” Seinfeld said. “The revenue is way up and the model sign-ups are pouring in.” And, given that “models are figuring out how to make $500 to $1,000 in a day,” according to Seinfeld, former McDonald’s employees could transition to doing cam work to make ends meet. “Well, during a pandemic, this is one of the only viable ways for people to make money from home,” he explained.

Sleazy PR stunt or economic opportunity? The truth may be in the eye of the beholder. Whatever the case, cam sites are turning this crisis into an opportunity, and the rest of the world is enjoying being entertained.