The house of sex:OnlyFans has transformed how many live and operate as sex workers and consumers of adult content.
Coronavirus. A word that you are most likely tired of hearing. This one word and the pandemic it is associated with has changed the entire world, including how we relate to each other. People logged into online conference rooms for work, zoom happy hours, and even virtual dates. During this time more and more people were also gravitating to a specific platform that was becoming known for spicy content, known for being the house of sex and adult activity: OnlyFans.
As the pandemic began to surge globally, OnlyFans soared in popularity with creators and consumers alike. But the online platform was founded years earlier. In 2016 Timothy Stokely was looking “to develop a site where creators could monetize their content free of advertisers” and OnlyFans was born. So how did OnlyFans evolve from a small creator-focused platform in 2016 to the online juggernaut that has permeated social media and pop culture? Well, to answer that question let’s look at just how much OnlyFans has grown and who is responsible for that growth.
Pre-pandemic Growth
OnlyFans founder, Tim Stokely, is no stranger to adult content. In fact, one of his first business endeavors was the cam modeling site, Customs4U. The experience with Customs4U taught him quite a few lessons. In an interview with GQ Stokely shares “I worked on previous platforms prior to OnlyFans and one of the mistakes I made was to focus on building what I felt was a great marketplace. But I didn’t, through inexperience, give enough consideration to the growth plan.”
London-based OnlyFans had a solution for the problem, a robust referral plan in which a person could make a commission on the earnings of new users. Incentivizing creators and affiliate marketers proved successful for the fledgling company. The site saw slow but steady growth in the beginning. OnlyFans reached the first thousand viewers within the first month and had reached their first million by late 2017 according to their reporting on the house of sex.
London-based OnlyFans had a solution for the problem, a robust referral plan in which a person could make a commission on the earnings of new users.
Although the site’s setup made it a perfect place to share adult content, that isn’t the only kind of content on OnlyFans. From its inception, users have shared a plethora of content ranging from cooking videos to music, fitness content, and beyond. The site continued to grow and then took off into another stratosphere when Coronavirus changed the world.
Sex Sells in this House
The pre-pandemic online landscape certainly had a place for OnlyFans but it was during the challenging period right at the beginning of the pandemic where the house of sex truly found its footing. A stronghold that wouldn’t have been possible without sex workers.
As lockdowns and shutdowns spread across the globe in an effort to handle the deadly Coronavirus pandemic, OnlyFans saw a significant uptick in both creators and consumers. Professor Phillip Hammack provided insight into this rapid growth in a conversation with Vox stating, “a lot of people who used to be reluctant about what I could call digital or networked intimacy were like, ‘Well, it’s not safe for me to develop a dynamic in person, so I’m going to go for this.’”
This emphasis on parasocial relationships paired with new content creators flooding the platform transformed OnlyFans.
What About Creators?
Well, that’s a bit more involved.
Certain individuals engaged in the adult entertainment industry utilized this platform to expand their enterprises and circumvent potentially hazardous environments. This group also included newcomers seeking supplementary income, as well as those who, due to the economic repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic, found themselves unemployed and in search of a new profession.
Although celebrities later took advantage of the popularity of the OnlyFans platform it wouldn’t have gained its cultural influence without NSFW (not safe for work) content and those content creators.
OnlyFans has seen a huge surge in creator signups since the start of the pandemic
The House of Sex Gains Prominence
In fact, a lot of celebrities took heat for their presence on the platform. Most notably actress Bella Thorne received a great deal of criticism for creating an OnlyFans account that according to Complex “ seemingly misleading [sic] subscribers who paid up to $200 for a “naked” photo, which turned out to be relatively tame. Though the platform denies the correlation between the two events, shortly after this “OnlyFans put a limit on what creators can charge” which directly negatively impacted smaller creators for whom OnlyFans is a primary source of income.
“On That Demon Time”
Upon examining the rapid growth of OnlyFans, it becomes evident that the platform embraces a wide variety of content genres.
But the old adage still rings true in the case of this website; sex sells.
Content creators, particularly those involved in the world’s oldest profession, were preparing for a significant setback on the platform. This came after OnlyFans announced through Twitter that they would be imposing restrictions on adult content to align with the stipulations set by banks and payment processors.
However, that announcement didn’t go over well with the public.
The Ban That Almost Was
After a deafening public outcry, the platform backed away from the ban. OnlyFans relayed a message via Twitter that stated that the site has “secured assurances necessary to support our diverse creator community and have suspended the planned October 1 policy change.”
Despite OnlyFans’ assertion of being a “haven for all creators”, recent actions suggest that the platform may not value adult entertainers as much when faced with significant financial considerations.
Although sex sells, sex workers are often treated like they are expendable. This proposed ban was met with so much backlash because even though this platform was built up by sex workers in the OnlyFans community, the website’s leadership was ready to turn their backs on those creators. The influx of sexually explicit content and the business’s success are inextricably linked. When Beyoncé sang “on that demon time she might start an OnlyFans” no one imagined a knitting channel.
While this exploitative pattern is not exclusive to OnlyFans, this is a glaring example of how even supposedly creator-centric platforms don’t value the safety and well-being of sex workers. Human beings desire connection, and according to how well the adult entertainment industry rakes in the cash, people love porn. Yet time and time again we send the message that we don’t care about the well-being of performers with restrictions like the proposed adult content ban.
The Decision and The Aftermath
The house of sex heard the public loud and clear and decided not to ban adult content. They assured users and creators that they had reached an understanding with the banking institutions that the proposed ban was meant to appease. Since the decision to move away from the ban, OnlyFans has continued to thrive.
The platform is still quite popular and that likely will not change anytime soon. In fact, as OnlyFans gains popularity similar sites may pop up and continue to advance the landscape of virtual connections. Seeking community is a part of the human experience and for many of us so is sexual expression. Sex workers are providing an important service that requires skill, business savvy, and creativity on this platform and at the bare minimum should not be seen as disposable and should certainly be respected.
Reality check
The ongoing debate about prohibiting adult content and the subsequent increase in OnlyFans’ popularity could lead to stronger protections for sex workers. Instead of stigmatizing consenting adults in this profession, it’s essential to listen to those creating such content. Maya Morena, an OnlyFans creator, told CNN that she felt her right to work was restored after facing potential removal. She also expressed the need for a lasting solution to protect her rights.
There is an opportunity to reflect on how we treat sex workers and understand their profession, including newcomers who view it as an easy income source. Consumers and platforms should also be held accountable for creators’ rights and well-being even after fulfilling their needs. By viewing OnlyFans as a representation of adult entertainment as a whole, valuable insights into these issues can be gained.
Diversity in thought and inclusion
Everyone from star athletes to celebrities, and everyday people are welcome on OnlyFans. They also make space for diverse gender expression and body types and for a lot of people, OnlyFans was a financial cushion when unemployment was on the rise. But these facts don’t make OnlyFans a creator’s utopia. The same racial pay disparities and disregard for the well-being of sex workers seen elsewhere are present on the website. This is just as much as it is an example of where the adult industry is heading it is an example of how far we still have to go.
How can we better protect and respect the people to whom OnlyFans owes their success? Can we move beyond hiding our prejudice behind the guise of protecting vulnerable populations? When can we make real-world changes that actually accomplish that goal and shield consenting adults from unsafe working conditions. How can we abolish precarious financial positions?
Conclusion: Is this truly the house of sex?
While we grapple with those challenging questions, OnlyFans will continue to provide titillating content. Creators will continue to build loyal followings. It’s clear that the house of sex has made its mark culturally and continues to be impactful. Hopefully, as the platform grows so does our acknowledgment of the humanity of sex workers.
Sources:
Fung, Brian, and Sara Ashley O’Brien. “Onlyfans Suspends Proposed Ban on Sexually Explicit Content.” CNN, Cable News Network, 25 Aug. 2021, https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/25/tech/onlyfans-suspends-ban/index.html.
Spangler, Todd. “Onlyfans Will Ban Pornography Starting in October, Citing Need to Comply with Financial Partners.” Variety, Variety, 25 Aug. 2021, https://variety.com/2021/digital/news/onlyfans-ban-pornography-sexually-explicit-1235044 904/.
Malik, Aisha. “Onlyfans ‘Suspends’ Decision to Ban Explicit Content.” TechCrunch, TechCrunch, 25 Aug. 2021, https://techcrunch.com/2021/08/25/onlyfans-suspends-decision-to-ban-explicit-content/.
Espinoza, Joshua. “Onlyfans Explained: What You Need to Know about the NSFW Site.” Complex, Complex, 20 Sept. 2021, https://www.complex.com/life/what-is-onlyfans-explainer.
Jennings, Rebecca. “The Sexfluencers.” Vox, Vox, 28 Oct. 2021, https://www.vox.com/the-goods/22749123/onlyfans-influencers-sex-work-instagram-porno graphy.
Lincoln, Darrelle, and Darrelle Lincoln. “WNBA Superstar Liz Cambage Shockingly Starts Onlyfans ACCT (PICS).” Total Pro Sports, 25 Nov. 2021, https://www.totalprosports.com/2021/11/25/wnba-superstar-liz-cambage-shockingly-starts- onlyfans-acct-pics/?fbclid=IwAR30NO5PqgO6gE6CA1aDYddALKtkiQTVxGddhA6vG6 13W2Trxn85kj5y7mQ.
Hitt, Caitlyn. “Tube Sites, Nude Creators, and Bella Thorne: The History of Onlyfans.” Thrillist, 28 July 2021, https://www.thrillist.com/news/nation/what-is-onlyfans-history-origins.
The house of sex:OnlyFans
