UK-based content subscription platform OnlyFans has u-turned on its decision to ban “sexually-explicit” content on its site.
The original, surprise announcement was met with backlash from sex workers, who accused the site of turning its back on the people who helped secure the platform’s success. On 25 August, OnlyFans announced that it has “suspended” the planned policy change. The platform’s flip-flopping has highlighted the precariousness of online sex work – often deemed safer and more secure than street-based work. It’s also shone a light on the continued exclusion and stigmatisation of sex workers, particularly by banks and payment processors.
The worker-led campaign against marginalisation and stigmatisation of sex workers continues unabated.
The proposed ban
On 19 August, OnlyFans announced that it would be banning “sexually-explicit” content on the site from October despite sex workers’ centrality to the platform’s financial success. Founder Tim Stokely told the Financial Times that the planned ban was the result of pressure from banks and payment processors. He stated that this is just one element of the sector’s exclusion of sex workers from accessing banking and payment services. OnlyFans currently has around 130 million users, and it’s set to make approximately $12.5bn in gross value next year.
OnlyFans isn’t the first site to propose censoring or deplatforming sex workers. Tumblr, Facebook, and Instagram have banned explicit content. Online listings website Backpage – which allowed sex workers to screen clients and move away from street-based work – ceased to exist in 2018. And the US SESTA/FOSTA bill – which was designed to prevent sex trafficking – has encouraged online platforms to censor and deplatform sex-working users.
In spite of pertinent concerns about safety and content moderation, some creators have testified that the site provides safer, more secure working conditions than far riskier street-based work. This is particularly true for marginalised workers, including People of Colour, disabled people, and trans people.
Highlighting the potential damage that the site’s proposed ban could cause, United Sex Workers shared:
https://twitter.com/unitedswers/status/1430167110311890954
Highlighting that the site’s proposals would disproportionately impact marginalised sex workers, Sex Worker Advocacy and Resistance Movement (SWARM) tweeted:
We send our love and solidarity to all sex workers who are scared and struggling right now. Within SWARM, we’re discussing how we can step up our mutual aid work in the autumn to help our members and the wider SW community affected by this ban.
— SWARM (@SexWorkHive) August 20, 2021
Plans to ban explicit content ‘suspended’
On 25 August, the platform announced a dramatic u-turn, tweeting:
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.
— OnlyFans (@OnlyFans) August 25, 2021
Delighted by the news, but wary of the platform’s commitment, one Twitter user shared:
Just to be clear you guys, as I said to friends when I first saw the above tweet: I'm too traumatized by past closures to feel like I can trust any statement like this. And yet! Even for a company to make this kind of statement is unprecedented in my 20 years of doing this work.
— Lorelei Lee (@MissLoreleiLee) August 25, 2021
Responding to the news, St. James Infirmary simply tweeted:
https://twitter.com/comebystjames/status/1430573813658386438
Reflecting to the harm caused by the site’s week of flip-flopping, another person tweeted:
give sexworkers a 100% payout percentage a month for every hour you caused them irredeemable stress/strife since the moment you said you were cutting out all explicit content on your platform & start tweeting out adult models on your Twitter feed regularly from now until forever
— ✨ Kati3 ✨ (@Kati3kat) August 25, 2021
Sex workers’ rights organisation English Collective of Prostitutes credited the sex worker led movement for OnlyFans’ u-turn, saying:
OnlyFans backs down & reverses its ban on sex workers . Credit to the sex worker led movement for safety, decriminalization and against stigma/discrimination. It was "a big slap in the face"…see comments in this good article @RubyJLL https://t.co/qpoaOK1UxH
— English Collective of Prostitutes ♀️ 🏳️⚧️ (@ProstitutesColl) August 25, 2021
Recognising the site’s continued exploitation of sex workers for profit, one Twitter user shared:
OnlyFans will keep sex workers around so long as they believe it maximizes profit, but have made it clear sex workers are expendable.
They still won’t advertise SWers, invest in conventions and other industry events, or even acknowledge we exist on their site. https://t.co/Z3aAsEKn6L
— PJ Patella-Rey (@pjrey) August 25, 2021
The fight isn’t over
Highlighting the need for banks and payment processors to stop excluding sex workers from accessing basic financial services, legal and advocacy organisation American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) tweeted:
This is welcome news, but sex workers’ livelihoods shouldn’t depend on the whims of individual platforms.
Corporations like @Mastercard, @PayPal and @Venmo must end their unsafe and incriminating practices and ensure equitable access to financial services.
SEX WORK IS WORK. https://t.co/mriA9PikUf
— ACLU (@ACLU) August 25, 2021
Calling on workers to unionise and put pressure on banks and payment processors to allow people to continue working online, United Sex Workers shared:
https://twitter.com/unitedswers/status/1430516838476259330
This Twitter user also urged workers to keep up the momentum, saying:
https://twitter.com/alpinestripper/status/1430513164916035599
Any individuals or organisations working towards economic and social justice should be involved in the fight to end the stigma and marginalisation of sex workers. The censorship and deplatforming of sex workers pushes the community further to the margins and into harm’s way. We must do more to listen to their experiences and centre their voices, while putting pressure on banks, payment processors, and platforms to ensure that sex workers can live and work in safe and secure conditions.
Featured image via OnlyFans/Wikimedia Commons
