OnlyFans Makes U-Turn & Will Continue to Allow Sexually Explicit Content

Whether you’re an OnlyFans content creator or subscriber, you’ve probably been down in the dumps for the last week.

The company announced on 19 Aug that it plans to ban “content containing sexually explicit conduct” from October.

This came as a shock to users of the content subscription service, as it’d be akin to a bubble tea store banning all caffeine and milk-based beverages.

Well, if you’re a content creator who’s been worrying about where your next paycheck will come from or a user who’s been losing sleep over where to see, uh, people naked, I have some good news for you.

OnlyFans Makes U-Turn & Will Continue to Allow Sexually Explicit Content

That’s right, OnlyFans has made a U-turn on its decision to ban sexually explicit content on its platform.

In a Twitter post yesterday (25 Aug), the company announced that it has “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,” it said.

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

A Platform For Adult Content Creators

For those who don’t know, OnlyFans is a platform where users can buy and sell content, much of which is of a sexual or explicit nature.

It soared in popularity during the lockdowns amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, when demand for such content skyrocketed.

Users can also sell other content, such as cooking and fitness videos – basically, anything people were willing to pay for.

Subscribers simply have to pay tips or a monthly fee to view the content. In return, OnlyFans takes a 20% share of all payments.

It was founded in 2016 by British tech entrepreneur Timothy Stokely.

Banks to Blame For Proposed Ban on Adult Content

The company’s announcement last week to ban adult content triggered a massive backlash online, with many sex workers pointing out that they contributed to the company’s rapid growth.

However, it seems that it wasn’t the company itself that wanted to change its business direction. Rather the proposed policy was implemented due to pressure from financial institutions.

As CEO Tim Stokely told the Financial Times: “The change in policy, we had no choice — the short answer is banks.”

Stokely actually named three major banks that refused service with the company because of “reputational risk” – the Bank of New York Mellon, Metro Bank, and JPMorgan Chase.

According to Stokely, OnlyFans pays over one million creators US$300 million (S$400 million) every month through the banking sector.

Under the proposed policy, most adult content would be banned, including content that shows, promotes, advertises, or refers to real or simulated sex, masturbation, and sex-related bodily fluids.

It would still have allowed nudity, but for many of the sex workers who made a living off the app, this wasn’t enough.

However, it was always clear that the company wanted to push back against the new, restrictive policy, as evident in a tweet on 22 Aug, three days after the shocking announcement:

Dear Sex Workers,

The OnlyFans community would not be what it is today without you.

The policy change was necessary to secure banking and payment services to support you.

We are working around the clock to come up with solutions.#SexWorkIsWork

— OnlyFans (@OnlyFans) August 21, 2021

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