Two important days in the calendar for SASH is International Sex Workers’ Day, and World Day Against Trafficking in Persons.
We want to continue raising awareness, and highlight the relevance of these concerns which are still present today, along with questions around online sex work and the popularity of apps such as OnlyFans.
This blog post is dedicated to amplifying the ongoing struggles of sex workers, especially those from minority communities, who continue to face threats online, experience cyberstalking, bullying and harassment, as well as providing information on trafficking and sex working where the sex worker is not consensually involved.
What is OnlyFans?
With the growing market around online sex work and adult content creators, OnlyFans began primarily as a pay-per-view adult subscription application in 2016. This peer-to-peer subscription app has increased its uptake 75% in April 2020 with unemployment skyrocketing during the pandemic and coronavirus lockdowns (López, 2020). Most recently, in 2021, there has been a 128% increase in users and 34% rise in the number of content creators (BBC, 2022). With both these numbers rising at a staggeringly high rate, OnlyFans is critiqued as a “better and safer” alternative to traditional sex working. Amongst other subscription services such as Fancentro and AVN Stars, OnlyFans specifically has revolutionised the adult entertainment industry as marking itself separate from other platforms allowing some content creators to hit an annual average take-home income of six digits (Frishberg, 2021). This research was conducted considering content creators’ subscription costs and subscriber numbers to calculate estimated monthly and annual incomes, along with the 20% cut OnlyFans takes from the app users. The research reveals that OnlyFans content creators can make 270 times more than top paid industry doctors, professionals and lawyers (Frishberg, 2021).
Is it a better and safer alternative?
Functioning on the false promise of a ‘get-rich-quick' pathway, it may encourage rushing into online adult content creation and not considering the impossibility of anonymity, the expenditure on aesthetics/advertising, the precarious nature of online work and the oversaturated market. Although it gives visibility to different kinds of sex work, there are concerns that the platform must be held accountable for exploitative and abusive content bought and sold on the application. It may have begun for some sex workers wanting to supplement their main source of income or replace lost income, but OnlyFans has made it clear that it does not support in-person workers, to not be held responsible for people soliciting prostitution (Lawless, 2021).
A recent BBC News investigation has revealed that under-age individuals have been selling explicit images on the platform. By using fake identification and cheating the age verification process, 16–17-year-olds have been using the platform to share videos, photos and interact directly with subscribers through messages (Titheradge & Croxford, 2021). A remarkable report exposing the correlation between third-party traffickers and minors, showcases 11% of the respondents’ awareness of minors having accounts on OnlyFans. The survey respondents stated a knowledge of 35 minors having adult content on the OnlyFans website (The Avery Center, 2021). Within the same research study, it was highlighted that content creators on OnlyFans state experiences of online sex trafficking – approximately 30% have received messages from traffickers to manage their online accounts for a portion or for controlling all earnings from subscriptions (The Avery Center, 2021).
OnlyFans content creators have also reported receiving threats and blackmailing messages from subscribers to take greater risks with the content they produce and offer services they usually would not. With the application working under the guise of maintaining safety and privacy, there are concerns around the true autonomy digital sex work allows. With leaked videos and pictures of several content creators, it has been reported that individuals are able to download paid content on the application and illegally distributing it for free (Griffin, 2021). Similarly, a BBC investigation has revealed that dozens of female OnlyFans content creators have been blackmailed – with their account being hacked and seized to stream IS terror videos (Croxford, 2021). There are reports of terror videos, rape threats and racial abuse on the application with explicit photos being uploaded of individuals without their consent. It is important to understand that OnlyFans states on its website that it is not responsible for moderating content or detecting breaches of its law – essentially making the platform unregulated and vulnerable to threat (Croxford, 2021).
Sex workers working in the digital space must be able to understand online safety, report leaks and navigate the challenges of exiting online sex work. The content creator must know what they are signing up for, research read and make informed decisions on choosing a platform, creating online content safely and being able to stand out in a crowded space (Gallier, 2022). There is always the possibility of subscribers being unable to abide by healthy boundaries such as harassing the worker, threatening to expose the worker and leaking online explicit content.
Where to get help
- If you feel that you cannot call 999 to support a victim of sexual exploitation, you can report it on the confidential 24x7 Modern Slavery Helpline at 08000121700
- If you do not want to report it to the police and want to remain anonymous, you can contact Crimestoppers on 0800555111
- If you need to speak to a caseworker, you can become a National Ugly Mugs member for free, where you can get email alerts about incidents in the area, checking if your client has been reported before, reporting incidents online and getting support. You can also speak to a caseworker at 01616299861 or 08004647669 (Tues to Fri 10.00 to 16.00): National Ugly Mugs – Ending All Forms of Violence Against Sex Workers
- If you have been affected by crime, you can contact Victim Support support line at 08081689111 or be contacted within three days by requesting support on their website at www.victimsupport.org.uk/help-and-support/get-help/request-support/
- If you are a woman in the sex industry looking for a free and confidential support service, you can contact Beyond the Streets on 08001337870 and they will call back, you can also email them at [email protected]
- If you are 18+ and have been victim of intimate image abuse (or revenge porn), you can reach out to Revenge Porn Helpline at 03456000459 (the helpline is open from 10.00 to 16.00 Monday to Friday). You can also submit a ‘Whisper’ or anonymous report on their website: Whisper Anonymous Reporting | SWGfL
- You can also find guidance and advice by visiting the website for The English Collective of Prostitutes (ECP) at prostitutescollective.net
- You can find resources and attend monthly meetings for the Sex Worker Advocacy and Resistance Movement (SWARM) at www.swarmcollective.org/meetings
- You can also join the International Union of Sex Workers (IUSW) through a membership form and fee, they organise campaigns and mobilise actions, you can find the membership form here: www.iusw.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/GMBmembershipFormDec10.pdf
Related Sources:
Aroney, E. (2016). “Sex workers of the world unite! How striking French sex workers inspired a global labour movement” The Conversation: theconversation.com/sex-workers-of-the-world-unite-how-striking-french-sex-workers-inspired-a-global-labour-movement-43353
BBC. (2022). “OnlyFans owner makes $500m after spike in users” BBC News: bbc.com/news/business-62754943
Croxford, R. (2021). “Under the skin of OnlyFans” BBC News: bbc.com/news/uk-57269939
Frishberg, H. (2021). “OnlyFans stars make 270 times more than the average worker: report” NYPost: nypost.com/2021/08/09/onlyfans-stars-make-270-times-more-than-the-average-worker/
Gallier, T. (2022). “'People turned to online sex work in the pandemic – then had their images stolen'” BBC News: bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/article/4dbbe2ca-bd9d-42b0-b3ea-22407c09e85c
Griffin, A. (2021). “OnlyFans leak: Company says ‘group of people’ illegally distributing premium adult content for free” Independent: independent.co.uk/tech/onlyfans-leak-hack-free-b1828438.html
Lawless, T. (2021). “OnlyFans isn’t revolutionising sex work, and using it ruined things I once did for personal pleasure” The Guardian: amp.theguardian.com/books/2021/aug/03/onlyfans-isnt-revolutionising-sex-work-and-using-it-ruined-things-i-once-did-for-personal-pleasure
López, Q. (2020). “People are turning to OnlyFans to earn money after losing their jobs during the pandemic” Insider: insider.com/people-are-creating-onlyfans-accounts-after-losing-jobs-during-pandemic-2020-6
“OnlyFans: A Case Study of Exploitation in the Digital Age”, (2021). The Avery Center: https://theaverycenter.org/intelligently-end-exploitation/onlyfans/
Titheradge, N. & Croxford, R. (2021). “The children selling explicit videos on OnlyFans” BBC News: bbc.com/news/uk-57255983