OnlyFans announces ban on sexual content

Starting October 1, 2021, OnlyFans – a website popular with sex workers – will effectively ban sexually explicit content. According to a statement released on Thursday, the policy change comes at the request of the company’s banking and payout partners. Allegedly, content with nudity is still allowed, provided it is compatible with the new Acceptable Use Policy. The ban is a devastating blow to the amateur sexwork community. Here are the details of this latest announcement.

How it started

OnlyFans is a live streaming platform that is synonymous with amateur porn, although it was not designed for sex work on purpose. The original idea behind starting the website is to connect creators (mostly on Twitter) with their audiences, eliminate middlemen, and enable easy payments. When using OnlyFans, viewers can tip a creator directly, subscribe to content, or pay as they see it. The platform went public in 2016 and today OnlyFans claims that it has over 130 million users.

How it goes

Without a doubt, most of the content on OnlyFans is amateur porn. For some business models, this would amount to an obvious success. Unfortunately not for only fans. Despite the incredible growth, the company is struggling to attract investors. Sex can sell, but it can also seem too risky for business. Similar to the challenges facing the cannabis industry, investors have listed concerns such as:

• The risks associated with gray market content.
• Preventing access and use by minors.
• Damage to the reputation of the partner brand.
• Bureaucratic bureaucracy. Some venture capital funds are prohibited from investing in adult industries.

The ban is reminiscent of Tumblr’s pornography ban in 2018. Previously a haven for marginalized teens to research their sexual identities, Tumblr sold for 1.1 billion in 2013 before the ban and reportedly sold for just 3 million in 2019.

The blow to the amateur porn industry

People usually get into the sex industry for two reasons: They’re horny and have been around for a while, or maybe they have a neglected kink. Plus, having extra cash never hurts. Or they need cash. The latter reason seems like the easiest and best option.

Some of the most vulnerable people in the sex industry are doing it because they need the money. When the main motivation is money, boundaries can be thin. Having a solid, healthy structure for new sex workers is imperative, especially if their focus is on finances. When it came to amateur porn, OnlyFans gave the average person the chance to get into the sex industry and take control of the entire experience. Most people would have no idea how to start a porn career, but OnlyFans made it easy to get into the industry. Thanks to this recent announcement, many amateur porn stars are now faced with the threat of losing their livelihoods.

Where to go now

Do you use OnlyFans? Is this change messing up your life? Don’t be upset, there are other options too. Here are some alternative adult platforms.