What do the porn industry and marketing have in common?

industries designed to exploit human nature, preying on desires we don’t even realize we have, all to make a buck.

They are the invisible forces behind modern civilization, steering technological innovation, digital commerce, and even cultural evolution. They exploit, manipulate, and profit from our emotions. Yet, without them, society as we know it would not exist, or at least be this advanced.

Porn is often dismissed as a fringe industry, something tucked away in the shadows of the internet. But it has been a pioneer in digital innovation, driving the evolution of streaming, online payments, artificial intelligence, and even content security.

Marketing, on the other hand, is everywhere—it has dictated what we buy, what we wear, how we think, and even how we see ourselves. It has fueled entire economies, created billion-dollar brands, and shaped global trends.

Both industries operate on the same fundamental principle: manipulation. They use psychology to tap into our deepest cravings—whether it’s sex, status, power, or belonging—and they sell us an illusion.

While many people would rather turn their noses up at the porn industry, the truth is that it has been one of the most powerful forces behind technological innovation. The internet, streaming, credit card transactions, and more would not have been this advanced without porn.

For an industry that operates on the fringes of acceptability, porn has been at the forefront of many technological breakthroughs. While the mainstream world was still debating whether the internet was worth investing in, the adult industry was already shaping it.

Here’s how porn built every piece of tech you use now, starting with:

The Internet

When the internet was still in its infancy, mainstream industries weren’t rushing to embrace it. But porn saw the opportunity early and went all in. The demand for adult content pushed internet service providers to improve bandwidth speeds, video streaming capabilities, and secure online payments—long before other industries caught on.

Netflix and YouTube didn’t invent streaming. The adult industry did. And when sites like Pornhub perfected on-demand video, the rest of the entertainment world followed suit.

Online Payments & Credit Card Transactions

Before Amazon made online shopping a household habit, the adult industry had already figured out how to process credit card transactions securely. In the early days of the internet, buying things online felt sketchy—until porn companies perfected digital payment processing. Now, the entire e-commerce industry runs on the backbone of the systems they pioneered.

The War on Piracy & Digital Rights Management

Think piracy is just a music and video game industry problem? Nope. The porn industry was one of the first to battle content theft online. They were early adopters of paywalls, watermarking, and digital rights management (DRM) because people were stealing their content before Netflix even existed. The tools they built to protect their revenue streams eventually became standard in all digital media.

Artificial Intelligence & Personalized Algorithms

If you think Netflix’s recommendation algorithm is good, wait until you see what the adult industry has been doing for years. Porn sites were some of the first to analyze user behavior and serve hyper-personalized content based on what people clicked, watched, and lingered on. The result? More engagement, more clicks, and a more tailored experience—something that now fuels social media, e-commerce, and digital advertising.

Meanwhile, marketing is selling dreams, aspirations, and identities.

It creates desire out of thin air and convinces you that your life isn’t complete without a certain product, lifestyle, or experience.

If you think about it, marketing has done more to shape culture and consumer behavior than any government, religion, or ideology ever has. 

Marketing Created Consumer Culture

Before marketing became the global powerhouse it is today, people bought products based on necessity.

You needed shoes? You bought the most practical pair available.

You needed food? You got what was affordable and local.

Then marketing came along and said, “Let’s make them want more.”

Brands started attaching emotions to products. Coca-Cola was selling happiness. Nike was selling achievement and ambition.

Suddenly, products weren’t just functional—they were a statement. People started buying not just to fulfill needs, but to shape their identities.

Now, every purchase is emotional. We don’t buy the cheapest option—we buy what makes us feel something. And that feeling? It’s manufactured by marketing.

Marketing Invented the Idea of “Luxury” & Status Symbols

What makes a Rolex worth tens of thousands of dollars while a Casio watch (which is arguably more precise) costs under $50?

Marketing.

The luxury industry is built entirely on perception. The cost of materials isn’t what makes something valuable—it’s the story brands tell.

Marketing transformed brands into status symbols. A Louis Vuitton bag isn’t just leather—it’s an exclusive club. A Tesla isn’t just an electric car—it’s a statement about your values and intellect.

This phenomenon isn’t limited to luxury goods. Even your iPhone is a status symbol. Apple convinced the world that its products are superior through marketing, not specs.

Marketing doesn’t just sell products—it creates hierarchies. And people willingly buy into them.

Marketing Made Celebrities & Influencers Gods

Once upon a time, people idolized leaders, warriors, and philosophers.

Now, we idolize influencers and celebrities—many of whom were manufactured entirely by marketing.

Hollywood, the music industry, and social media platforms have created gods out of ordinary people by branding them as aspirational figures.

Marketing engineered fame by making us obsessed with lifestyles we’ll never have. Reality shows, influencer culture, and celebrity endorsements have turned regular individuals into walking advertisements, pushing us to buy, consume, and imitate.

The influencer economy itself is a product of marketing psychology. Every Instagram ad, YouTube sponsorship, and TikTok trend is just a modernized version of billboard advertising—but more effective than ever.

Marketing Engineered the Attention Economy

Marketing used to be limited to billboards, newspapers, and TV ads. But as technology advanced, so did the fight for attention.

Today, the biggest companies in the world—Meta, Google, TikTok, Amazon—sell your attention.

Social media platforms track your every move, serving hyper-personalized ads based on your behavior. You’re no longer just a consumer—you’re the product being sold to advertisers.

Marketing hacked human psychology by exploiting dopamine cycles. Every notification, every ad, every “limited-time offer” is designed to keep you engaged, impulsive, and constantly wanting more.

It’s why you can’t stop scrolling. It’s why you keep buying things you don’t need. It’s why marketing is the most powerful force on the planet because it exploits YOU.

Marketing and porn thrive on the same principle—understanding human psychology and using it to drive behavior.

Every advertisement you see, every clickbait headline you fall for, every time you feel an inexplicable urge to buy something—is psychological warfare, and you’re the target.

The porn industry works the same way.

At the heart of it, marketing and porn are two sides of the same coin. Both industries sell fantasies—whether it’s the dream life, the perfect body, or the ultimate experience. They thrive on emotion, impulse, and psychological triggers.

All of this to say—if you think porn is an exploitative industry that should be stopped, just remember: we’re all killers, we’re walking zombies trying to scratch an itch. If you work in marketing, you’re also exploiting people. And if you think you’re above it all, you’re not.