On October 4, 2021, the world experienced the direct repercussions of its social media addiction as Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp faced several hours of downtime.
With lockdowns still in place in various countries, many had limited choices. The outcome? A notable 10.5% surge in Pornhub’s traffic.
While 10.5% may seem modest, the impact is significant when framed differently. During each hour of Facebook’s service outage, Pornhub welcomed around 500,000 new users. It’s an undeniable fact: the world has a penchant for adult content, and Pornhub stands as the industry’s largest brand.
This website has not only transformed the landscape of adult entertainment but has also played a role in destigmatizing and challenging societal taboos associated with pornography.
But who got the ball rolling, and what were the circumstances of Pornhub’s inception? Read on to find out!
Who Made Pornhub?
The history of online pornography commerce took a turn with the advent of YouTube, inspiring the adult industry to create its tube sites for more accessible and more readily available content.
In this landscape, Matt Keezer, a Canadian entrepreneur, played a pivotal role by establishing Interhub and subsequently creating Pornhub.
Keezer, Stephane Manos, Ouissam Youssef, and Feras Antoon leveraged their experience in the adult industry, particularly in profitable niche content. They co-founded Brazzers, which would eventually become the world’s largest adult production company.
In 2007, Brazzers launched its first tube site, giving birth to Pornhub. Interhub, the overarching company, gained prominence in the adult entertainment industry and caught the attention of Fabian Thylmann, a connoisseur of the field with a background in creating tracking software for advertising links and clicks.
Thylmann’s passion for adult content led him to purchase several adult-themed websites, including Interhub, for approximately $140 million in 2010. He named the conglomerate Manwin with a singular goal — rapid expansion.
Under Thylmann’s leadership, Manwin experienced a remarkable 40% growth in less than a year, with Pornhub emerging as a significant contributor.
The company continued its aggressive expansion, even acquiring rights to renowned brands like Playboy. However, in 2013, Thylmann faced legal issues for tax evasion. In response, Manwin executives orchestrated a buyout, leading to a rebranding as MindGeek (and later Aylo).
Feras Antoon — one of the founders — and David Tassilo then took the helm, determined to maintain the company’s dominance in the adult industry.
Finishing Words
The story of Pornhub’s birth is undoubtedly an interesting one, even more so considering the ups and downs the platform faced and continues to face.
If you’re interested in learning more about the Pornhub of today, check out our scoop into the company’s center of operations!
