Amelia Phommachanh aka @a.mel.the.creative is a 16-year-old creator. She fears that too many young people who find their way into sex work through social media don’t realize the future consequences. Her worries came to light after her personal content went X-rated last year. This transition opened her up to the ugly reality and dangers of the industry. This sentiment resonates deeply with the young influencers. One such example is 19-year-old Tahalia Roe, who has gained a massive following on TikTok through documenting her experiences day-to-day.
As their platforms expand, Phommachanh and Roe find themselves more conscious of the content they produce. They know what message all of their decisions, big or small, send to their colleagues. For one, they say social media tends to glamorize an unrealistic lifestyle without giving enough insight into the negatives that exist within sex work. Australia is getting ready to introduce a social media age ban for anyone under 16 beginning December 10, 2025. This decision was announced at the same time as a new pornography ban, involving age verification for adults.
The Reality Behind the Glamour
Amelia Phommachanh exposes social media’s tendency to glamorize the sex work lifestyle. She juxtaposes all of this with the tough realities that most people, in fact, experience. She states, “If we look at screen time, a lot of kids have more than six hours of screen time a day. We’re scrolling in the dark.” Phommachanh feels that young people are shaped by media images that do not always tell the whole narrative.
Furthermore, she notes, “When we see really lavish lifestyles, there’s that comparison to how the viewer lives … there can be thoughts of discontent in their own lives.” Such comparisons force most young Americans to act before they truly grasp the lasting effects of their choices.
Tahalia Roe echoes these sentiments, explaining, “I think I was very influenced by other creators who were already doing it.” As a founder and creator, she draws on her own experience — she joined OnlyFans and started posting modeling content when she just turned 18. Roe’s experience reflects how simply accessible the industry is for young people to slip through the cracks. Personally, they downplay its impact on their mental health and home life.
Calls for Transparency
Environmental activist Kayla Jade, a well-known influencer with more than 2 million TikTok followers, has set her sights on the issue too. She’s a big believer in Australia’s recently passed ban on social media for kids under 16. She thinks this new step will make Camden a healthier place for kids. Jade mentions a desire for more transparency from influencers to better represent the realities of sex work.
“Everyone, especially women, in this industry have had some sort of negative experience — whether it’s judgement, relationships, career-wise,” she states. Jade contends that too often creators romanticize the process, ignoring the hardships that go along with it. “It’s not all glitz and glam unfortunately,” she adds.
Jade challenges her influencer peers to do better and be more transparent in their sponsored posts targeted at impressionable youth. She believes that fostering a more realistic conversation around sex work can help younger individuals navigate their choices more wisely.
Concerns Over Educational Content
Mish Pony has similar worries about the ill effects of Australia’s new social media laws. Her concerns are that as tech platforms work to not promote explicit content, important educational content may get buried. “How do we balance having the good part and restricting the bad part, and why does that mean all of a sudden, the good parts get cancelled out?” asks Phommachanh.
As the ban approaches, Roe reflects on its implications, stating, “The ban at the end of the year will be good. It protects kids, but it doesn’t really mean that it will stop them.” Roe recalls her own experiences with social media as a teenager, admitting, “I know when I was younger, I wasn’t allowed to have social media, but I still had it.” This begs a number of important questions. Would these bans even prevent young users from using platforms that might connect them with harmful content?
Phommachanh understands that most teenagers will just find a way to lie about their age to get past restrictions. “They’re going to start lying about their age on apps. We already do it,” she remarks.
