- When it was founded in 2016,
OnlyFans was created as an online platform
to give fans exclusive access
to their favorite content creators
based on paid subscriptions.
It also happens to be one of the few platforms
that allows explicit content,
which is why it's credited with empowering sex workers
in an industry that's otherwise been destabilized
by the internet.
But quarantine is changing all of that.
Influencers, from Caroline Calloway to Tana Mongeau,
are all joining in record numbers.
And so are celebrities, like Bella Thorne and Cardi B.
But why is this a problem for traditional sex workers?
Because of quarantine,
OnlyFans has experienced massive growth.
Sex workers I spoke to said that
they're seeing their rankings go down
as a result of influencers and celebrities
crowding the platform.
And that's wreaking havoc on their earnings.
- I made about 50 percent less than I did last summer,
and less than I was already making this year,
because of the influence of celebrities that came in.
My percentage dropped between eight and 15 percent,
which was a giant drop.
- Other sex workers have said that
as queer, Black, and trans creators, they have more to lose.
- I do worry.
And the thing is, before it existed,
the mediums that you would go to for porn,
they were already saturated with white, straight content.
And OnlyFans kind of became one of the places
where you could find something more specific.
- It becomes blatantly obvious,
how much better I would do
if I was not a person of color, which is discouraging,
but also these are the cards I was dealt.
- Influencers aren't only crowding the platform.
Some are actively delegitimizing sex work itself.
Some make whorephobic remarks,
while other influencers
deny that they're doing sex work at all.
Do you think the hesitancy for influencers
to refer to themselves as sex workers
contributes to the tendency
to invalidate sex work as real work?
- There's always two reasons why people don't like sex work.
It's either because it makes them uncomfortable,
or it's because of religious prejudices.
It's okay for other people to hypersexualize us,
but it's never okay when we take ownership
and claim towards our own sexuality.
When it comes to celebrities doing that,
it would just be so much easier
if they would just say it is what it is,
like, it is sex work.
- If someone wants to profit off of this world,
you can't call what you're doing
something other than what it is.
Being transparent about it,
calling it what it is, is really what's going to help us
start to see all sex workers in a different light,
in a more sympathetic way.
- Basically, those who don't post full nudes on OnlyFans
look down on those who do.
And those who only post to OnlyFans look down on strippers,
who then look down on full service sex workers,
who directly engage with clients.
All of this just serves
to further delegitimize an industry
that was already in need of help before the pandemic hit.
Not only are influencers denying
that they're participating in sex work,
they're also glamorizing the selling of nudes
as a means to an end.
Anyone should have the right
to do what they want with their body
as long as it doesn't affect non-consenting parties.
But the amount of influencers
monetizing their nudes for clout
are not showing people the reality of sex work.
Do you think celebrities and influencers who join OnlyFans
have a responsibility to tell their fans
like, "Hey, there are real repercussions to doing this?"
- Yeah, I really do think that
because a lot of them do have younger fan bases,
and that is kind of concerning.
- I can't even tell you how many people will, you know,
go in my inbox and be like, "Oh, I want to do this,
how can I start out?"
I think there's an issue with people getting into this
before they're actually of legal age.
I think a lot of these young girls don't realize
that the people are going to see it,
and you can't take that back.
- And at the end of the day, it is a dangerous profession.
- Make sure you have a Google number
so no one stalks you and ends up at your house.
Make sure you have email addresses that are brand new
so no one stalks you and ends up at your house.
Also, a lot of jobs
will not accept you after you do sex work.
- There are moments in which I don't want to be seen.
The true cost is feeling objectified in times where
you might suddenly wish
you had never put anything up at all.
- The influx of celebrity OnlyFans accounts
has also created this uncomfortable entitlement
to women's bodies on the platform.
Fans have taken to Reddit and Twitter
to complain about their favorite influencers
creating OnlyFans accounts,
but declining to show any nudity.
The expectation of nudity on OnlyFans
is a symptom of a greater issue.
Many men believe that women
owe them something for their attention,
whether it's a kiss or a lewd photo.
Here's the thing.
If influencers are determined
to join on the OnlyFans bandwagon,
they should at least use their very massive followings
to support other sex workers.
As with any form of content creation,
monetizing digital sex work
depends on building a dedicated fan base.
And at the end of the day,
it's nobody's place to gatekeep sex work.
But if influencers are going to
jump into the world of OnlyFans,
they'd be far more welcome
if they're willing to use their societal privilege,
digital leverage, and economic advantage
to advocate for a safer future for all sex workers.