Let’s be real: when you think of Pornhub, you probably think of… well, you know. But behind the scenes, the tube site behemoth is loudly broadcasting a different message, one centered on safety, verification, and a commitment to its creators. In a detailed statement from the company, Pornhub has pulled back the curtain on the intricate, multi-layered process it now uses to keep the platform secure, signaling a dramatic shift from its past and aiming to set a new standard for online safety.
The company is making its mission clear, stating a desire to be a leader in trust not just in the adult world, but across the web.
“We strive to lead the way with respect to online safety, not just in porn, but across the entire internet,” Pornhub declared in a communication on its official site.
So, what does that actually look like? It’s a far cry from the upload-anything-goes era of the past. The platform now operates more like a high-security club with a strict guest list.
The ‘Velvet Rope’ Policy: Verification is Everything
The single biggest change is who gets to upload content. Gone are the days of anonymous uploads. Now, only two groups can share videos: verified individual creators and professional studios.
For solo performers in the Model Program, getting verified is a serious step. They must prove their age and identity using a third-party service, and their application is then personally reviewed by a human moderator before they get the green light. Think of it like getting a verified checkmark on social media, but with legal ID and a real person double-checking your credentials.
For professional studios joining the Content Partner Program, the process is even more intense. It’s less of a verification and more of a full-scale business audit. Studios have to provide a mountain of paperwork, including:
- Proof of their company’s legal registration.
- Recent tax filings and utility bills.
- Government-issued IDs for the account holder.
- Proof of ownership for their website domain.
- Release forms and IDs for every performer in the content they plan to upload.
This “Know Your Client” review is so thorough that Pornhub says the entire process can take weeks to complete. It’s a deliberate, high-friction system designed to ensure only legitimate, compliant producers make it onto the platform.
Every Frame Watched: The Human Touch in Moderation
Once a creator is verified, the safety checks don’t stop. Every single video uploaded goes through a rigorous two-step moderation process before it ever sees the light of day.
First, the content is scanned by a suite of automated tools that check it against databases for known illegal material or other immediate red flags. This is the digital bouncer. But if it passes that initial scan, it moves on to the most critical stage: human review.
A team of human moderators watches and listens to every upload from start to finish. They meticulously check that the content adheres to Pornhub’s Terms of Service and that all performers involved have been properly verified. No video is published until it gets a human sign-off, a process that can take up to 72 hours.
This intensive process is a direct response to the immense pressure and controversy the site faced in recent years. Following a bombshell 2020 report from The New York Times and subsequent pressure from payment processors like Visa and Mastercard, Pornhub radically transformed its policies, purging millions of videos from unverified users and building this new, fortified system from the ground up.
More Than Just Safety: A Nod to the Creator Economy
Beyond the safety protocols, Pornhub is also making a clear effort to court and retain its creative talent in an industry increasingly dominated by creator-owned platforms.
“We do not waiver in our commitment to support sex workers and we are working on new initiatives to help creators expand their revenue streams,” the company stated, teasing that more details will arrive in 2025.
This move is a direct acknowledgment of the modern creator economy. By promising new ways to earn, Pornhub is working to position itself not just as a tube site, but as a viable partner for performers who want to build a stable income and a loyal fanbase.
It’s a bold new chapter for the platform. By combining Fort Knox-level verification with a forward-looking promise to creators, Pornhub is sending a clear signal that it’s ready to be a different kind of industry leader—one built on trust, safety, and a whole lot of paperwork.
* Thumbnail from pornhub.com
