[5] While most display nudity and sexually provocative behavior, some choose to remain mostly clothed and merely talk about various topics, while still soliciting payment as tips from their fans.

[6][10] However, Amanda made an important early discovery that would influence the camming industry for decades to come – that a website's popularity could be greatly increased by enabling viewers to chat with a performer while online.

[1][13] Camming websites typically fall into two main categories, dependent upon whether their video chat rooms are free or private.

[14] Tips are electronic tokens that viewers can buy from a camming website, and then give to the models during live performances to show appreciation.

[15] A July 2020 survey found the average webcam model in the United States works 18 hours per week, and earns $4,470 per month.

Webcam performers are often highly entrepreneurial and use mainstream social networking sites such as Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Skype, and Tumblr to build and maintain relationships with their customers.

"[12] However, Dr Kari Lerum of the University of Washington suggests that men are more open and vulnerable in cam rooms than in strip clubs, and can become very invested in relationships which only exist on the screen.

The study found that over 40% of its users had developed significant relationships with their cam models, ranging from friendship to deep emotional connections.

Since camming requires only a video camera, broadband service, and a computer, there has now been a power reversal, and female webcam performers are driving the industry.

"[29] Anna Katzen, a camgirl who has a postgraduate degree from Harvard, stated during an interview: The men I meet online rarely fall into the category of anonymous asses who have abandoned all social etiquette, nor do they resemble the pasty, calculator-wristwatch-wearing forebears of chat rooms past.

[32] This was driven in part by a large influx of new creators with little or no previous experience in sex work who joined the platform due to unemployment.

[35] To improve security and anonymity, some webcamming services (such as Live Stars) use blockchain technology to handle the payment and to protect the model's entered personal information.

[13] Camming sites typically supply each webcam model with an individual profile webpage where the performer can describe themselves and more importantly, create a virtual store where they can sell items like videos, photos, personal clothing, and memberships to their fan club.

[39] The affordability of and access to new video recording technology has spawned new variations and genres of pornography since individual women, as well as industry players, can now create content.

[1] Commissions earned by webcam models vary widely by website and are usually based on a percentage of gross sales, although sometimes they are in the form of a flat fee.

[2] Some webcam models cater to particular fetishes, such as a fascination with feet, and might earn additional money by selling worn socks to patrons.

For example, one major free-access site, which only allows female models, fosters an environment where the camgirls are not necessarily obligated to do masturbation shows or even display nudity.

This has potential disadvantages; however, mainstream social media platforms often have poorly-defined and changing rules that sex workers can inadvertently break.

One example was the pornographic film company Kink.com, which rented individual cam studios in the San Francisco Armory by the hour from 2013 until the building was sold in 2018.

[13] Various support websites supply general information about business strategies, upcoming conferences, performance tips, and studio equipment reviews.

Support sites also advise on how to protect privacy, discourage piracy, avoid Internet security lapses, and prevent financial scams.

[7] Due to the controversial nature of pornography, camming, like most sex work, is not considered a legitimate form of labor in most developed countries.

[58] A sex work researcher, Rachel Stuart, notes a paradox in British law that tends to focus on the uploading of pornographic recordings, but does not deal with erotic performance when streamed upon the Internet through camming.

[2] In one case, Internet trolls revealed the real name, address and phone number of a webcam performer and posted this information, along with explicit photos of her, on social media, and the account was forwarded to her friends and family.

[2] As of 2019, it was reported that there is little legal protection for cam models, as most of the case law deals with the regulation of strip clubs and sex shops, or for distribution of products.

The word "camily", a portmanteau of "cam" and "family", refers to communities formed by sex workers to help deal with such issues.

[59] A New York Times report described the story of Justin Berry, a 13-year-old boy who, after hooking up his webcam and listing himself on an online forum in order to make friends, was propositioned by older men to strip and masturbate on camera.

The incident generated headlines around the country and landed Sunderland reported deals with Playboy, and a contract with Penthouse's parent company Friend Finder Networks purportedly worth six figures.

[63][12] In Arizona during 2015, a fan took his appreciation of camgirls to an illegal level when he was indicted for spending $476,000 on a company credit card, which he used for tips on camming websites.

According to the indictment, he also purchased flowers, chocolates, electronic equipment, shoes, a TV, a handbag, laptop computer, and an iPod for some of his favorite camgirls.