IMO pictures of sex online are part of the adult industry--even if it's freelancing, even if it's illustration, there is a range to NSFW. While the line is being pushed into kind of a ridiculous area nowadays as to what is NSFW, I think we all know that porn is quite different than maybe a boob sticking out in an artistic and not sexual way, youknow? Fetishizing is different, and it's a big industry, and yeah it'll get you clicks and it'll get you money.
But sometimes I worry that young kids are being pushed into an adult industry because of the clicks and the money, although there are other things you can sell as an artist. Like even if you aren't selling your work, you're still making that NSFW and then posting it for the clicks (otherwise a teen would probably not post at all because it's a little overshare to be like "and here is my fetish!" youknow?) We aren't teaching kids about other business opportunities as illustrators. Instead the kneejerk reaction is "well, if you want people to join your patreon, you have to draw porn" which comes off so defeated. (Not to mention ignorant to the fact that a kid on virtually any money platform like Patreon, Etsy, and Paypal, is not allowed to sell NSFW anything at all. At all. Not allowed. They will suspend your account. If you are underage and you draw that titty--goodbye your account)
Like I don't want to shame because this industry exists in part because opportunities for money can sometimes be scarce and desperate, and I understand that there are societal circumstances that lead to that poverty which are well out of the control of the people in it. But I also think that this happens because kids don't know how artists make money, in part because art education doesn't really exist until you're in college, and in part because the industry itself has very high bars for entry for even something as simple as spot illustrations nowadays.