The OnlyFans Nudity Saga, And How It Impacted Sex Workers In Covid-19 Pandemic

OnlyFans recently announced plans to ban nudity and sexual content, which came as a shock to many. After a week of facing ire by its regular users, the company reversed its ban on adult content, claiming that the prohibition would have harmed the interests of its diverse userbase.

Over the last two years, OnlyFans gained a global following for being sex positive, allowing sex workers the opportunity to maintain steady incomes while ensuring their safety.

Sex workers made the platform what it is today. Recently, the platform decided it no longer wanted to represent sexual content. While the ban may have been lifted, it seems inevitable due to other external stakeholders. So, how did the world's most sex positive platform suddenly become anti-sex? There's a lot to scratch here, including pressure from payment companies, funding, and the need to preserve its long-term goals. In fact, it is owing to its open embrace of x-rated content that OnlyFans can only be accessed on the website and not as an application on iOS or Android.

Thank you to everyone for making your voices heard.

We have secured assurances necessary to support our diverse creator community and have suspended the planned October 1 policy change.

OnlyFans stands for inclusion and we will continue to provide a home for all creators.

¡ª OnlyFans (@OnlyFans) August 25, 2021

OnlyFans

What is OnlyFans?

OnlyFans works on a subscription model, giving artists and sex workers the opportunity to rake in steady incomes - something the industry has struggled to replicate in the physical world.

The app gained momentum in the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic, when abrupt lockdowns forced industries shut and left many at the mercy of incentives by local governments.

Also read: Even After Being Allowed To Resume Work, Sex Workers In Sonagachi Are Struggling To Survive

For sex workers, OnlyFans emerged as a safe haven during this time. It took away all the complaints sex workers mostly have with performing their jobs in the real world - safety and consistency.

Last week, the service announced plans to ban "content containing sexually-explicit conduct" before a quick reversal of the abrupt move.

Mind you, though! The app did not enforce a blanket ban on nudity, but instead claimed that some facets of adult content that were in sync with the new policy would have been retained.

Reuters

Why did OnlyFans ban adult content?

Why would a platform that became famous owing to sexual content pull such a move, you wonder? OnlyFans claims they want to ensure the long-term sustainability of the platform.

In addition, OnlyFans stated how it will making the changes to comply with requests from banking and payout partners - essentially pinning the blame on certain elements that could make or break a successful application.

Also read: Attacks On Sex Workers In Africa Rise Amid Lockdown Poverty, People Think They Spread Covid-19

According to its website, the service has paid out over $5 billion to over 1.5 million creators, some of whom are big industry names like Cardi B, Tyga. For every payment, the platform collects 20 per cent.

Sex workers were feeling betrayed, claiming that the platform which they helped built suddenly wanted nothing to do with them. In 2019, The New York Times had called OnlyFans "the paywall of porn".

Reuters

What changed for OnlyFans?

When reports of child abuse and assault content being widely circulated on PornHub went viral, companies like Mastercard and Visa announced that their users would no longer be able to make payments on the platform.

It's imperative to note here that pornography websites and portals are banned in India.

Similarly, sharing "lascivious" content on the internet is banned by Section 67 of the IT Act in India. While indulging in adult content on portals may not always invite fines and imprisonment, the transmission of nude content is illegal under law.

Technically, operating a OnlyFans account solely for sex work does not sit well with Indian law.

Also read: Prostitution Not An Offence, A Woman Has The Right To Choose Her Profession, Says Bombay HC

After the ban was reversed, OnlyFans has started sharing positive narratives of people who have a solid following on the app. Take a look at an instance below:

¡°As a photographer, OnlyFans has given me the opportunity to display not only my portfolio but my personal content¡± ?? Photographer ¡®Sweet Venom¡¯ is sharing her exclusive photography, empowerment and mindfulness content ??¡â? So go introduce yourself at: https://t.co/9owAV4XjOV pic.twitter.com/wnabBDpK5P

¡ª OnlyFans (@OnlyFans) August 27, 2021

?Hola! ?Hola! Have you introduced yourself to @IamYanetGarcia on OnlyFans? ??? Whether it¡¯s unseen photoshoots or a look into her life, the forecast is always exclusive content over on her page! ?? So head over and say ???C¨®mo est¨¢s? at: https://t.co/Y6j2CFjuF1 pic.twitter.com/MqWk7Q6sB3

¡ª OnlyFans (@OnlyFans) August 26, 2021

Can Indians use OnlyFans?

Currently, OnlyFans is trying to raise $1 billion from outside investors. And companies don't like to be associated with portals that allow nudity. An anti-pornography stance is becoming the industry standard now - in 2018, Craigslist shut down its "personals" section and Tumblr banned pornography by the end of the same year.

As part of OnlyFans' now withdrawn policy, all content deemed inappropriate would have needed to be removed from the platform before December 1, 2021.

Even though it may no longer be enforced quickly, offering sex workers a safe way to make a living and then abruptly taking it away stems from how dangerously the profession is perceived by most.

In India, the act of "prostitution" is not illegal, but soliciting and running a brothel are among many things banned by law.

OnlyFans isn't extremely popular in India, not charting even in the top 5 countries where the app has considerable presence. According to SemRush, 56.77 per cent of its users are based out of the United States. The United Kingdom has the second highest user base with 9.42 per cent.

While OnlyFans is now trying to position itself as a platform for health enthusiasts, homemade chefs, and musicians, adult content is not going anywhere anytime soon. But the truth is that the platform is used by most creators for private adult content who have a big following on platforms like Twitter and TikTok. The paywall offers safety to creators and also ensures a way to make money... But it seems that may change eventually, if not at the moment.