Sky News reports:
Porn site or British tech success story? OnlyFans explained
OnlyFans is a multi-billion dollar business. To some it is a British tech success story - but to others it raises questions about exploitation, online safety, and the sex industry.
OnlyFans makes its money through subscriptions and other payments to its 'content providers'.
Many of these content providers are women and many are providing sexual content in the form of photos or videos in their fan 'feeds'.
OnlyFans even has an API so you can keep track of content queens (and a few kings) from all over the world using sites like findapeach.com, which has nothing whatever to do with fruit.
What OnlyFans has done a brilliant job of is redefining porn into 'content providing' and in relationship monetization, for example:
If there’s chemistry between us, a warm vibe, and deep understanding - I’m happy to get closer. That kind of connection isn’t for everyone, and that’s totally fine ? Anyone who sticks around becomes someone really special and important to me ❤️
In many ways it's the natural next step up from online dating sites like Secret Benefits with their restricted access 'secret albums'
You subscribe to Substack to get more of the views of some talking head you respect, so why not subscribe to OnlyFans where you can watch someone giving head and maybe just for you?
Instead of webcamming on a porn site, OnlyFans content providers establish a more direct link with their 'fans' through subscriptions and direct messaging to get juicy 'extras' that may involve PPV (pay-per-view) arrangements.
The site has also made good use of the 'fans' term when subscribers are at best voyeurs and at worst punters. In essence, the site is a form of controlled stalking.
It's a perfectly valid business model and there are countless stories of people who have given up their day-jobs to focus on ensuring they can provide the constant stream of fresh content that their subscribers expect.
It's all rather sad but apparently it makes some people happy so why quibble?
https://www.mylondon.news/news/north-london-news/london-mum-quits-virgin-atlantic-26963239
“If I say I’m cabin crew I get spoken to with respect but when I say I work in the sex industry it changes people's opinions even though I’m same person. My mum and dad are probably not too happy but my daughters and sister’s opinions are only opinions I care for and they say you’ve got to do what makes you happy."
The old expression 'on the game' now applies equally well to OnlyFans as it is a sort of game that you can drop in and out of and decide what level you want to play at.
While the game may begin as a kind of flirtatious entertainment for both parties, over time, as subscribers push for evermore salacious content, who knows where it can end up?
It may be safer than being an escort and less in people's face than being a poledancer or a happy-ending masseuse but is it something you would recommend to your kids as a career choice?