OnlyFans

The OnlyFans logo

OnlyFans is an online content-sharing social platform that was founded in 2016. According to its creator, British entrepreneur Tim Stokely, the site was developed to monetize their content free of advertisers. Creators are given the ability to paywall content by setting monthly subscription rates for premium followers, in return, OnlyFans receives 20% of their total revenue. Although creators can upload any kind of content such as music and comedy, it is widely considered as a platform for sex workers.

Background

Company Info and User Data Projections

OnlyFans is currently a privately-traded company owned by CEO and founder Tim Stokely. It boasts more than 100,000,000 registered users and pays more than $3,000,000,000 annually to its creators. Tim Stokely estimates that the site gains 200,000 new users and 7,000 to 8,000 new creators every day. Currently, the global headquarters of OnlyFans is located at Kearn Street in London. According to online databases of OnlyFans statistics, approximately 1.54% of users are content creators while 98.46% are fans. The most liked account globally is @omgcosplay with ~3.21 million likes, the most subscribed account with 236.6K fans is @HAMMY_TV and the top earning profile of ~$20 million is @blacchyna. XSRUS, a strategic business consultant and analyst, reports on their blog that the average monthly earning from OnlyFans is $180. They observe that the top 1% of accounts share 33% of all monthly revenue while the top 10% of accounts make up 73%.

Functionality

Users of OnlyFans can interact with the application similarly to other social media platforms. The website offers standard content filtering, sharing, moderating, and reporting functionality. New content can be posted as text, images, videos, or audio and be liked, commented on, or given tips by other users. Posts are modelled after the “carousel format” popularized most notably by Instagram, but focus on highlighting creators instead. Seasoned creators can customize their business model and the level of fan interaction they have as well. Monetization opportunities include: additional paywalls on content, freemium pricing strategies, and discounts on bundles. Creators can message fans individually or collectively without revealing which, forming stronger connections. OnlyFans encourages its creators to prioritize fostering relationships with fans as “tipping is a key way free OnlyFans accounts earn.”

Cultural Effects

Mainstream Appeal

Though the company has been in existence since 2016, OnlyFans experienced exponential growth in 2020. It rose from paying $64 million to creators and having 7.5 million subscribers in 2019, to paying over $300 million and having 85 million subscribers in 2020. Many have speculated that the COVID-19 pandemic unwittingly spurred the mobile-app gig-economy due to rising levels of unemployment. Loneliness from social distancing and isolation is another commonly cited reason for OnlyFans’ recent success. The social media platform has also grown in popularity thanks to attention from mainstream media and celebrities. A growing list of famous users who have already flocked to the platform includes Tyga, Cardi B, Bella Thorne, and Jordyn Woods. Megan Thee Stallion’s Savage remix featuring Beyonce also lyrically references the social media platform: “Hips TikTok when I dance/On that Demon Time, she might start an OnlyFans (OnlyFans).”

Controversy and Criticism

In spite of its many successes, OnlyFans has encountered plenty of controversies and criticisms as well. In August of 2020, Bella Thorne joined OnlyFans and broke records by receiving more than $1 million in one day. She also broke her promise of nude photos, supposedly resulting in OnlyFans capping tips for private messages and pay-per-view content at $100 dollars and $50 respectively, rather than the $200 previously. Like many other celebrities, Bella has faced backlash for gentrifying the platform, diverting much-needed attention and resources from sex workers to her. OnlyFans has received praise for overturning power imbalances in the sex worker industry, giving creators newfound agency in their careers. However, as noted by XSRUS, OnlyFans overwhelmingly favors those who already have established social capital, creating a false illusion of achievable success. This income and class divide between organic top creators and celebrities is a widespread criticism of OnlyFans.

The long-term, ethical implications of normalizing pornagraphic content creation has unwittingly sparked new life into cultural debates regarding promiscuity. Supporters of OnlyFans argue that it could sexually liberate and empower women in a society that oppresses and victimizes their sexuality. On the other hand, critics of OnlyFans argue that it could lower moral standards and spread content permanently throughout the Internet. The consequences of increased porn use replacing human connection is a widespread debate typically applied to OnlyFans as well.