“Hips TikTok when I dance/On that Demon time she might start at an OnlyFans”

These are the sultry lyrics Beyoncé sings on her track with Megan Thee Stallion when she name-dropped OnlyFans, a content subscription platform that has grown exponentially over the past year. The platform has most notably become a permanent fixture in pop-culture for its X-rated content.

Over the years, OnlyFans has bolstered the profile of sex workers, however, in recent times, it has also affected their earnings.

OnlyFans was founded in 2016 as an app for content creators to share special videos with their fans. OnlyFans is a social network like Instagram or YouTube, except that creators get to charge for their content, keeping between 70 and 80 percent of the proceeds. As of May 2020, the site currently has about 450,000 creators and claims to have paid out $725 million.

Although chefs, musicians, and fitness influencers have used OnlyFans, the platform has quickly become synonymous with amateur adult content from huge influencers.

Due to the accessibility and piracy of porn, porn stars are being paid less and less.

OnlyFans has become extremely profitable, and a viable career option due to COVID-19, just like TikTok.

Just like TikTok is bolstering the careers of the likes of Charli D’Amelio, Zach King, and Addison Rae,  OnlyFans has become the main source of income for many creators. There is a swarm of influencers flooding the app because it is on-trend. However, this affects the livelihoods of sex workers and adult content creators who depend on OnlyFans for their income.

In the digital age, porn has become easily accessible, everything you could imagine is at your fingertips. With various X-rated sites, there is no shortage of porn online. However, due to the accessibility, and consequential piracy of porn, porn stars are being paid less and less.

According to Mark Spiegler, “the average female performer would make about $100,000 a year, she now might make as little as $50,000 – all while juggling responsibilities such as social media outreach and personal appearances.”

As a result, so many traditional porn stars are moving to OnlyFans. By being independent, they do not have to suffer agent fees or be at the mercy of contracts or studios.

OnlyFans provides porn stars with a platform where they control scenes they want to do. Honey Gold, a porn star, claimed that on OnlyFans performers aren’t “reduced to categories” like they often do in porn. She goes on to write that she has “missed out on a lot of opportunities because directors have told me that I’m too difficult to ‘cast’ in certain roles.”

OnlyFans has given performers space where they can unapologetically work without the discrimination that comes congruent with the porn industry.

OnlyFans has given performers a space where they can unapologetically work without the discrimination that comes congruent with the porn industry.

The rise of OnlyFans is inexplicable, at times it has nothing to do with the most explicit content you post, but rather the intimacy subscribers feel they share with the creator. The messaging component of the app makes it feel as though you have an online girlfriend, a companion. The ability to be able to communicate with someone you’re watching creates the illusion of a genuine relationship which makes the appeal of OnlyFans understandable.

Unlike Instagram, where your favorite creator probably won’t respond, on OnlyFans you are guaranteed a response – if you tip well.

While other media platforms create the feel as though you are merely on the periphery of your favorite’s world, OnlyFans lets you request personalized videos and messages.

In addition, unlike in sites like Pornhub, content creators require an ID to have an OnlyFans account, thus the possibility of underage children on the app lessens. There is a security verification that helps safeguard against illegal distribution of child pornography.

Yet, many people think the ribaldry antics of OnlyFans are easy to do. There is a misconception that sex work is frivolous work, but it is quite the contrary. However, when influencers like Caroline Calloway make posts about earning $223,800 annually on the app, it rubs other content creators the wrong way.

Caroline Calloway is a cis white woman with an immense amount of privilege, being already Instagram famous with nearly 700K followers.

Not only is she capitalizing off a platform some people are using because they are struggling, but her privilege and tone-deafness toward the situation is disappointing. She made this announcement during economic strife due to the pandemic when sex workers are being left out of coronavirus relief packages in the US. She responded to critics saying she was trying to encourage other girls to join the platform and get their coin.

The ignorance is deafening.

Currently looking at a $$223,800 annual salary from OnlyFans pic.twitter.com/a8No6cA988

— ◥◤Caroline Calloway (@carolinecaloway) May 3, 2020

Many sex workers on Twitter attacked Calloway for her insensitivity. A Twitter user said, “That’s a ridiculous sentiment considering most people absolutely can not make $ like that on the platform, especially not right away.”

That’s a ridiculous sentiment considering most people absolutely can not make $ like that on the platform, especially not right away.

The privilege jumped out & if you’re convincing people sex work is easy money- you’re irresponsible.

— Ari Dee (@TheAriDee) May 4, 2020

These notions lessen the hard work that sex workers do. Not many women of color, plus size or disabled woman would be able to get even half of the subscribers she has for a $50 subscription fee. An influencer like Caroline is already established and can turn her popularity from Instagram and Twitter to OnlyFans.

Ordinary sex workers don’t have that option.

Moreover, OnlyFans has had leaks in the past. Influencers like Caroline Calloway or Tana Mongeau can run back to Instagram and continue doing sponsored posts, but for an average person, they can get blackballed from companies due to morality clauses.

Sex workers have been marginalized and forgotten from most parts of society. The pandemic has hit this industry the hardest.

People are doing this to afford tuition, rent, and necessities. Porn stars and sex workers are being pushed out of their industries because of COVID-19, and the weight of that financial burden in addition to being told your work is not hard is insulting.

OnlyFans has been an amazing opportunity for sex workers to create and build an audience in a safer space, but starting from scratch on a platform that is flooded with already rich influencers is now a battle.

Sex workers have been marginalized and forgotten from most parts of society. The pandemic has hit this industry the hardest.

While some services can’t be substituted with an online experience, avenues like OnlyFans allow workers to exercise greater control and decide who they let into their world.

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By Danai Nesta Kupemba

Editorial Fellow

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