After all, many user-uploaded porn sites rely on the “safe harbor” loophole in the DMCA that assumes that user-uploaded sites aren’t aware when their content is copyright-infringing. As long as these sites delete the content when demanded, they’re in the clear as far as the DMCA is concerned.

The twist on this scenario that’s been happening in the porn industry occurs on user-uploaded porn tubes. A recent Xbiz article alleges that some porn tubes are knowingly uploading infringing content (or paying others to do it for them) then removing the videos when requested. Once a video’s been removed, however, it’s then sent back to the upload department who re-uploads it. Xbiz argues that this cycle is causing the porn industry immensely. In fact, USA Today quoted Steve Hirsch, founder of Vivid Entertainment, as saying that DVD sales plunged 20% last year.

While such changes are affecting the industry, it’s important to keep in mind that not all porn tubes are alike. Yes, some porn tubes are allegedly uploading content under the guise of user-uploaded content. However, other porn tubes, like Orgasm.com, actually function under affiliate partnership deals. This means that 100% of our content is legally obtained through the relationships we have with the porn studios who created it. Just remember: not all free porn is bad and not everything you hear about porn tubes applies to us.

I’ll admit that I’m shocked to hear myself say this but it looks like CNN did their research. Or, rather, they talked to quite a few of the right people. They spoke with the aforementioned Dan Miller as well as Alexander Raymond Palumbo, social media strategist for Digital Playground. They also checked in with Chauntelle Tibbals, a scholar studying the porn industry. And, to represent the porn star side of things, they talked with James Deen, Dana DeArmond and Kayden Kross.

And what they write is true: Twitter has helped the porn industry. We all watch porn, after all. The problem is that porn has often been seen as a shady, hidden thing. So, despite the fact that everyone watches it, there was always a bit of a divide between porn makers and porn viewers. Twitter may just have changed all that by bridging the divide and making our favorite porn stars accessible.

Another thing that Twitter has managed to change were some of the stereotypes about porn stars. James Deen, for example, has built a lot of his reputation off of the demeanor he presents on Twitter: he’s the silly boy next door. Kayden Kross also defies porn star stereotypes by tweeting about horses and literature. Dana DeArmond, on the other hand, has made her mark on Twitter by being one of the most down-to-earth and responsive porn stars on the site. (For even more porn stars who tweet, check out our coverage of some of the porn stars with the biggest followings.)

In fact, the porn stars I’ve encountered on Twitter reinforce this: they’re regular people tweeting about their lives. If you’re on Twitter, why not check out some porn stars? After all, CNN seems to think it’s a good idea. Oh and, hey, why not follow us on Twitter while you’re there?