Rape, Child Exploitation + Image-Based Abuse: The Truth About OnlyFans
OnlyFans, a subscriber-only social media platform that allows people to sell pornographic content of themselves, is portrayed as a great way for young women to make money, and a better, safer option than traditional prostitution. Some of the dominant media narratives in support of OnlyFans frame it as an ethical alternative to mainstream porn sites, as the means for sellers to have more control over the content they produce, and even as a confidence-building endeavour for women (see our report Side Hustles and Sexual Exploitation).
We’ve previously exposed how OnlyFans puts women and risk and leaves them vulnerable to exploitation. An increasing number of young female content creators report degrading and violent requests, abusive and predatory treatment, as well as doxxing, image-based abuse and stalking. We also published an account from former OnlyFans recruiter Victoria revealing how women were exploited and degraded on the platform.
But it’s even worse. A growing number of reports expose OnlyFans hosting – and profiting from – illegal and abusive content, including videos of children, rape and non-consensually produced or shared material.
Read moreFormer OnlyFans recruiter exposes reality of the industry in Daily Telegraph
Collective Shout volunteer Victoria interviewed
Former OnlyFans recruiter turned Collective Shout volunteer Victoria was interviewed for the Daily Telegraph last week, where she revealed the abuse and degradation of women she witnessed which ultimately led to her quitting her job.
Doesn’t OnlyFans give women more control?
OnlyFans, a subscriber-only social media platform that allows people to sell pornographic content of themselves, is portrayed as a great way for young women to make money, and a better, safer option than traditional prostitution. In reality, it puts women at risk and leaves them vulnerable to exploitation. An increasing number of young female content creators report degrading and violent requests, abusive and predatory treatment, as well as doxxing, image-based abuse and stalking.
We published a piece by a woman named Victoria, a former recruiter for OnlyFans, who revealed that women who were prepared to do the most degrading acts were glorified on the platform. Victoria wrote:
“I have seen young girls in the most intimate of positions. I have even seen them defecate on themselves and it was encouraged by the agency, as the more intense the act, the more money you could make. The more the girl would do, the better for us.
“I had people ask for the girls to be tied up, write ‘slut’ on her stomach, play with sex toys on camera while saying the man’s name, moaning and other sexual acts. ‘Age play’ was huge! The girls who looked the youngest were the most in demand and made the most money so you’d promote them that way.”
In 2023 we joined a coalition of thousands of advocates calling on the US Attorney General to investigate OnlyFans for facilitating sex trafficking, child sexual abuse material, and image-based sexual abuse. The women who have alleged rape and sex trafficking by Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan reported they were forced to make pornography that was shared on OnlyFans.
Our joint research with the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women Australia (CATWA) found that during the first year of the pandemic, Australian media actively promoted OnlyFans to young women.
See also:
‘Side Hustles and Sexual Exploitation: Australian news media reporting and commentary on the sex industry during the Covid-19 pandemic,’ CATWA/Collective Shout
I recruited girls to sell themselves on OnlyFans. Here’s why I left.
“I want to do all I can to educate young girls on how this lifestyle is not the glamorous life it is presented as… OnlyFans is preying on young women and it’s time for me to speak out”
We recently met Victoria at an event in Melbourne. She wanted to tell us her story. At the time she was still in the industry. But soon after, with our support and the support of others, she found the strength to leave. This is her story.
Read moreCollective Shout responds to common defences of Cheeky Waffles
Content Warning
Since launching our Cheeky Waffles campaign, the company along with its customers have come to our pages to defend the porn themed restaurant which sells replica, ejaculating penises while apparently also welcoming kids into its venues.
We've responded below.
Read moreWin! City passes rules to block porn billboards
Ad Standards fail prompts local council to act
Read moreAd Standards Flaws Exposed
Last month Perth mum of four Lyn Swanson Kennedy paid for an independent review into an Ad Standards determination after the Community Panel gave the green light to a huge OnlyFans billboard at a busy intersection. The billboard created a stir of controversy with over 6000 people signing a petition for the land owner to have it removed.
Read moreCall on the U.S. Attorney General Investigate OnlyFans
Collective Shout joins with National Centre on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE) and thousands of grassroots advocates to urge the U.S. Attorney General to investigate OnlyFans, so they can be held accountable.
OnlyFans is on the NCOSE 2023 Dirty Dozen List for facilitating sex trafficking, child sexual abuse material, and image-based sexual abuse.
Click here to add your name.
The letter states:
Please investigate OnlyFans for exploitive content and conduct found throughout their site.
I believe that OnlyFans is facilitating prostitution and sexual exploitation with its predatory platform based on revenue earned from vulnerable people’s bodies – especially the bodies of women and minors. Exploiting financial insecurities deepened by the COVID-19 crisis, OnlyFans promises fast cash, empowerment, and even fame, when in reality, it facilitates sexual exploitation, harms minors, and emboldens men to objectify and degrade women.
Law enforcement and service providers are seeing evidence of sex trafficking and child sex abuse material (CSAM) proliferating on the site. BBC recently ran an article about the significant number of minors selling nudes on OnlyFans, images that are CSAM under U.S. federal law.
OnlyFans has insufficient verification measures for age or consent—meaning, it is highly likely that CSAM and sex trafficking are on the platform. This website has all the hallmarks of Backpage.com (shut down by the FBI in 2018): pornographic pictures and videos are used to advertise for both sex trafficking and prostitution victims (including minors). Further, law enforcement is finding that many sex trafficking victims, and victims of CSAM, are coerced into creating live streams or webcam pornography as well. OnlyFans is an obvious marketplace for traffickers to promote and sell sexual exploitation.
Please investigate this company and hold them accountable!
Head to the NCOSE website to learn more.
Family friendly car race flogs porn site to kids
Event organiser ignores, hides challenges to porn promos
We told you about the gigantic Perth porn billboard flogging OnlyFans subscriptions to kids.
Read more