Only Fans has been one of the fastest growing internet platforms, and with all the recent publicity around it such as the Stan Documentary, it’s only going to keep growing.
I was first introduced to Only Fans when I entered the sex industry 10 years ago by a fellow sex worker at the agency I worked at. At this time, Only Fans was very much unheard of, even within the adult industry. She would show me her fast-growing earnings, often outpacing our in-person work, and it wasn’t long until she left the agency completely to pursue her online endeavour.
It was during covid-lockdown when the platform exploded in popularity, with a lot of my peers joining it as a way to earn money when we weren’t able to do so in-person. Many of them were making far more money than they did as an escort (due to the scalability of it) to the point where they ditched this work completely to become a creator. This was also around the time Only Fans exploded on social media, even to the general public- to the point where it has now became a household name.
I’ve obviously had a lot of opportunities to join the platform over the years, to the point where I get a DM almost every day asking: do you have Only Fans?
Of course, there has been a temptation- but for me personally, it is something I won’t do. I’ll explain why.
the Internet Never Forgets
The biggest reason I won’t do Only Fans is simple: once your content is online, it stays online forever.
People often say things like ‘ just delete it later if you no longer want that type of content out there’, but realistically that’s not how the internet works. Content can be screen recorded, downloaded and uploaded onto other sites.
When starting an Only Fans, will you be okay with your explicit content being shared to your family (including your parents or children)? Your co-workers?
Because all of these are very real possibilities.
A lot of women join only Fans, with the expectation that this will be kept separate from their personal life. Or that they will do it discretely. Or that a privacy leak will never happen to them.
But the reality is that the only way to become successful on Only Fans is by heavily promoting yourself online: TikTok, Instagram, Twitter- your personal brand becomes your marketing tool. But the visibility is a double edged sword. The more successful you become, the more likely it is more people in your real life to find you. As much as you or I don’t believe stigma around sex works should exist- the reality is that is does. And you have to be prepared for the consequences of that. You may lose friends and family. If you have children, they could end up seeing your content.
There are countless stories of women losing their job or their children dropping out of school for bullying because of it. The long term impacts can be devastating.
You’ll also be dealing with the relentless attacks of the internet. The body shaming. The stalking. The blackmailing.
As an escort with a fairly minimal online presence, even I have had instances of privacy leaks. People finding my content and sharing it with people I know. The internet is a small and relentless place, and my only saving grace has been my somewhat ‘modest’ online presence. This would be impossible if I’d been posting outright explicit content.
The way society treats sex workers isn’t right, but it is a reality.
If you plan on doing Only Fans you have to be okay with that reality of anyone seeing your content.
Future Proofing
When people first start Only Fans, the money can be incredibly lucrative. We all the clips of girls online with their fancy apartments, fast cars and designer clothes but it all that really worth it?
The reality is that explicit content attached to your name will limit your opportunities. This isn’t something I agree with, but it is a reality. While escorting can also come with similar consequences, again- it is far easier to keep a lower profile while doing it and a lot easier to bury that trail when you’re ready to move on.
A lot of girls are drawn to Only Fans because it offers fast cash and the excitement that comes with sudden financial freedom. But the excitement of superficial luxuries wears off. Expensive bags and luxury holidays only fulfil on a very shallow level.
And again, you need to ask yourself- is the money really worth the sacrifice to your future? The sex industry can be exhausting- both mentally and physically. The burnout rate is immense and over the 10 years in this industry, I have seen sex workers leave absolutely broken by it. It can be lonely at times and when things do go wrong, there can be nobody to talk to. There is a possibility that if you sign up to Only Fans, figure out it’s not for you or that maybe the money wasn’t as good as you thought, but this stint may impact your life forever.
If I decide to have kids one day, it’s possible that they will find my content. Or that their school friends will find it and bully them.
And then what happens after sex work? The reality is that this industry is based on appearance- we have an expiry date- and then what happens?
For me, I want to keep options open for the future. I know that I won’t be doing this forever and I don’t want to post content that may permanently impact my future. While yes, maybe I have already damaged this by being an escort, but I also try to be careful about the way I show myself online.
The Industry Is Saturated
All those years ago when I first discovered Only Fans in its infancy, it was a really easy way to make money. There weren’t a lot of people doing it and the competition was much lower. That girl from the escort agency I mentioned earlier wasn’t even posting porn, just nudes and foot photos and was making more than her full service sex work job. She would simply post a photo of herself on instagram with her ‘bits’ blurred out and men would pay $50 a week to see the uncensored version.
Since then, creators have increased by 1000% with over 4 million creators using the platform. What is more shocking is that the median annual earnings is a mere $1500. Yes- that’s $1500 per year. It’s become so saturated and overly competitive to the point where only the top 1% of creators make over $80,000. So 99% of people aren’t even making more than a full time wage. These success stories you see on social media are the minority, so to me- the risk is not worth the trade off. Colleagues of mine who have been full time Only Fans creators for the last 7-8 years have also slowly transitioned back into full service work as the earnings aren’t what they used to be anymore.
Also, the work that goes behind a successful Only Fans account is a LOT more than you think. There’s an illusion that you just post some steamy videos on your account and a few thirst traps to socials and the fans start rolling in. That’s not the case at all. There’s the collabs, filming and editing, engaging with users, social media posts- the list goes on. It’s also a job that you can’t just ‘switch off’ from. When people are paying a membership fee, you need to be constantly feeding them a service or they will just go elsewhere. On top of that- social media has also become an overly competitive landscape and getting your content to the top of the algorithm, especially when social media bans explicit content- has become more challenging than ever.
On top of that, the type of content you need to post to stand out has become more extreme. Gone are the days where my friend was posting uncensored photos and foot pics. Unless you’re a celebrity or look like a Victoria’s Secret model, filming hardcore and even rage baiting ‘controversial’ porn (ie Bonnie Blue) is the only way to become successful.
Relying on one platform (especially one associated with the adult industry) for your income is also a huge risk. In 2021, Only Fans had planned to ban explicit content from their app which caused panic in the industry, especially as this was a sole source of income for some. There is a huge risk in all your earnings coming from one site, especially with future Government Legislation changes.
Ethical Dilemma
There is also an ethical aspect of OnlyFans that I struggle with personally. While many people view it as empowerment, I can’t help but feel that it contributes to the hyper-sexualisation of women and sends a confusing message to young girls about what success looks like. We live in a time where social media constantly showcases creators earning large amounts of money through their sexuality, and maybe I’m old fashioned or boring, but there’s something about this that just doesn’t sit well with me. After decades of progress towards women being recognised for their intelligence, leadership and achievements, it sometimes feels like a step backwards when so much value is once again being placed on how sexually desirable a woman can be. That’s not to say women shouldn’t have the freedom to make those choices, but I do question whether a culture that increasingly rewards sexualisation is ultimately beneficial for women as a whole.
You may argue that the same criticism could be applied to escorting, and that’s a fair point. The difference for me is that I have never viewed myself as selling a sexualised version of who I am. What I offer is companionship, conversation, connection and a shared experience. My personality, intellect, humour and ability to connect with people are as important as my appearance. In many ways, I feel like I am bringing my whole self to the interaction rather than reducing myself to a sexual persona. Maybe I am deluded in thinking that, but that’s fine with me. That distinction is important to me, and it’s one of the reasons why OnlyFans has never felt aligned with my own values.
I hope this gave a bit of insight into my thoughts around Only Fans and why I’d never do it. This is also not to judge others who do Only Fans, it is just my personal opinion and reasoning. Let me know your thoughts about this topic as well- I am always interested in other ideas and perspectives.
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This blog from Jasmine is totally correct!! Yes, OnlyFans can look like quick, easy money. However, for young girls, in reality it is often much more complicated and damaging than what is on offer. It is incredibly common for paid content to be stolen, screenshotted, or screen-recorded and posted to free forums. Even if someone deletes her account later, those files exist forever and they can resurface years later during checks for corporate jobs, university admissions, or specialized careers. What a person chooses as their career should never be at issue but OnlyFans id not the way to go! Let me offer this defence for the Escort Industry without say go done the road OnyFans!! In response to Jasmine’s concerns, let me offer a defence of an Escort’s role in our society!! The word “escort” in many sections of our society still illicit a negative reaction and surely this is convenient hypocrisy, as we accept many work scenarios that engage in physical closeness, emotional intimacy, or the body itself; what about actors who perform sex scenes or those who use sites such as Tinder to meet and perhaps engage in sex?? It creates a meaningless moral line when sex carries a financial transaction. In this 21st Century Escort work needs to be understood as a legitimate profession. Those who direct condemnation at an Escort is arguing from an archaic set of assumptions. Let me suggest that the work undertaken by an Escort is work that is consensual. All adults should have the right to decide how to use their time, bodies and skills as they see fit. It is already true that many types of work that uses a set of skills in physical intimacy are totally acceptable be it nursing, massage therapy or the like and yet there are still sections of our community that singles out Escorting because of its sexual activity. The idea that we should have a moral discomfort about the role is abhorrent. I would suggest that an Escort may choose the profession as it offers flexible work hours and may be seen as a source of income to fund education or be an escape from poverty. It goes without saying that societal acceptance of Escorting would safeguard an Escort from harm as the profession can then be regulated which would enable her to report any violence and get access to healthcare. If, as that archaic moral section of our society wants to eliminate Escorting, then the only outcome would be to drive it underground which in turn would lead to exploitation and great risk for the Escort. Is not the Escort, as a profession, also entitled to what all workers are; safety, access to public health. Let me add that an Escort quite often is able to give emotional support, companionship and intimacy to a client which may give comfort and support to the lonely, socially isolated and disabled which really is a type of emotional labour that too often sections of our society undervalue. Let me suggest that an open dialogue with Escorts is infinitely more effective than a century old moral condemnation. Too respect the job that an Escort undertakes is to acknowledge a woman’s right to make decisions about her own body and livelihood. To defend Escorting is respect choice, reducing harm, and refusing to let moral discomfort override evidence.
SO NO TO ONLYFANS – JASMINE IS CORRECT!!!!