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 moreAndrew Tate arrested in Romania on trafficking, rape and organised crime charges
Former boxer and misogynist influencer Andrew Tate has been arrested in Romania on charges of human trafficking, rape and organised crime. He was arrested alongside his brother and two other suspects, and is now in pre-trial detention while police continue to investigate.
Read more“I wasn’t raped, but...”: The phenomenon of unacknowledged rape and sexual assault
For Rachel Thompson, it took ten years to realise what had happened to her was sexual assault.
Read moreWe reported 100 pieces of child exploitation content to Instagram - they removed just three
Mega and PayPal named in Instagram's child sex abuse material promos
Read moreSubmission to Canadian parliamentary Ethics Committee: Protection of Privacy and Reputation on Platforms such as Pornhub
Collective Shout welcomed the opportunity to provide a brief to assist Canada's House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics in its examination of the conduct of MindGeek - Pornhub's parent company - including allegations of facilitating and distributing Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), non-consensual sexual activity, non-consensually shared images (image-based abuse or IBA) and content created using victims of sex trafficking.
Read moreWhy men need to de-radicalise from porn - I was one of them
'We're looking at a future of far more widespread abuse against women and girls if we don't de-radicalise men now'
By James*, Collective Shout Supporter, UK
Read moreRadicalisation: the process whereby an individual comes to adopt increasingly radical views in opposition to the accepted norms.