OnlyFans this week announced that it will block content depicting "sexually explicit" activity.
The company was able to cater to both creators' and subscribers' interests in adult content.
The site's decision was criticized by many sex workers, particularly those who earned steady income through subscriptions.
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OnlyFans made this week a decision to ban sexually explicit content. This move cost the online creator platform millions and could have a significant impact on how adult entertainers use it.
Here are the facts.
What is OnlyFans?
OnlyFans, a subscription service for content creators, allows them to get funding from their "fans". Fans can send direct payments to receive one-time tips or monthly installments. This allows them to see content that ranges from musicians to fitness.
According to the company, it has more than 1,000,000 creators and more that 100 million registered users.
After Leonid Radvinsky, founder of MyFreeCams, bought majority stakes in MyFreeCams, the platform was associated with sex workers. The site gained popularity thanks to the creation of OnlyFans accounts by celebrities like Tana Mongeau and Bella Thorne.
What has happened to Only Fans this week?
OnlyFans announced Thursday that it would begin blocking sexually explicit material beginning October 1. Creators can still upload nude photos and videos to their site as long as they don't violate the Acceptable Use Policy.
The company stated that they must update their content guidelines to ensure long-term sustainability and continue hosting an inclusive community of creators. These changes were made to meet the demands of our bank partners and pay providers.
What does this mean for OnlyFans?
Despite the fact that OnlyFans has NSFW content, the company is having trouble finding investors due to the site's adult content. According to documents obtained from Axios and pointing to concerns about the site's branding and content, other companies with similar valuations to OnlyFans have no difficulty attracting investors. Unsafety concerns companies have been raised by the possible appearance of underage users in videos and depictions of sex-trafficked people.
OnlyFans was reported to be looking for ways to make the site more appealing to the general public. This included shifting from its sexual content to its celebrity market and social influencer markets. The Raine Group, a bank that deals in telecom and tech, was the first to help it find investors. Radvinsky was also wanted by the company to sell his shares in order to get rid of its ties with the adult entertainment industry.
Tumblr did a similar thing in 2018, prohibiting users from posting any adult content on the platform. The company's overall valuation dropped and downloads fell a year after the "porn ban". Its community felt disassociated from what was once a safe place to express and explore sexuality. Tumblr users who were comfortable posting explicit content struggled to find ways to make content and stay connected to the community. OnlyFans is not sure how it will change its sexual content which has become an integral part of its identity.
What are the reactions of creators?
Insider heard from sex workers that they were frustrated at the lack of transparency by OnlyFans about their decision.
Chelsea Lynn said that she was among the top 0.15% creators and this week, "The current feeling" she is getting from creators she knows and herself is anger and confusion. "Sex work created OnlyFans. Now it feels like they are turning their backs towards us."
Some users asked OnlyFans customer service representatives to not believe "untrustworthy sources" of information.
One representative from OnlyFans stated to a user that they did not intend to remove adult content.
Jane Wilde, a sex worker who makes her living primarily through OnlyFans said that she was frustrated by the fact that OnlyFans provided media outlets with a statement prior to consulting creators.
Wilde said that she also found the jokes made by social media users at her expense to be disheartening.
