Starting in October, the company will ban creators from posting sexually explicit material on its website, which many sex workers use to sell explicit content to their fans.
They will still be allowed to post nude photos and videos, as long as they are consistent with OnlyFans’ policy, the company said Thursday.
OnlyFans will ban sexually explicit videos from October and people are baffled
The social networking service’s popularity soared during the pandemic as sex workers, musicians and online influencers used it to charge fans for exclusive access to photos, videos and other material.
OnlyFans has attracted more than 130 million users.
That popularity also brought additional scrutiny, and OnlyFans is positioning itself more as a forum for musicians, fitness instructors and chefs than for sex workers.
While many of its most popular creators post videos of themselves engaging in sexual behavior, several celebrities such as Bella Thorne, Cardi B and Tyga have also created accounts.
The changes are necessary due to increasing pressure from banking partners and payment providers, according to the company. OnlyFans is trying to raise money from outside investors at a valuation of more than $1 billion.
“To ensure the long-term sustainability of our platform and continue to host an inclusive community of creators and fans, we must evolve our content guidelines,” OnlyFans said.
The company is led by founder Tim Stokely and owned by Leonid Radvinsky, an Internet entrepreneur.
The company has been praised for giving sex workers a safer place to do their work. But sex work still carries a stigma. The company handled more than $2 billion in sales last year and is on track to generate more than twice that this year.
It keeps 20% of that figure.
OnlyFans said it will provide more guidance on its new policy at a later date.
