Selling sex virtually is a thriving business: OnlyFans, a giant of self-produced smut, is used by over 4m “creators”, who upload content, and over 300m “fans”, who pay to watch it. Some 14% of young Americans say they would consider selling their wares on the site.

Regardless of whether you approve of this home-made entertainment, its rise should not be surprising. The gig economy, as the proliferation of flexible but often precarious freelance work is known, has grown far beyond its early days of taxis and takeaways. Even the world’s oldest profession is being transformed by new ways of working.