OnlyFans said Thursday that it will ban sexually explicit content from its platform, shocking smut-obsessed users of the wildly popular photo and video-selling site.
The company said nude photos and videos will still reportedly be allowed if they meet the company’s new guidelines — but “sexually explicit content” will not be allowed under new rules taking effect on Oct. 1.
“OnlyFans will prohibit the posting of any content containing sexually-explicit conduct,” the company said in a statement to The Post. “Creators will continue to be allowed to post content containing nudity as long as it is consistent with our Acceptable Use Policy.”
OnlyFans declined to elaborate on its definition of “sexually explicit,” and was stingy with specifics on why it’s making the surprise pivot away from porn. But the company said the move was necessary to “comply with the requests of our banking partners and payout providers.”
“In order to ensure the long-term sustainability of the platform, and to continue to host an inclusive community of creators and fans, we must evolve our content guidelines,” the company added.
On Twitter Thursday, many users predicted that OnlyFans’ profitability will evaporate once the company bans porn — and accused the company of betraying the sex workers who made it profitable.
“OnlyFans announces they will be going into Chapter 11 on October 2nd,” said on Twitter user. “OnlyFans banning porn is like Twitter banning people from having terrible opinions,” said another.
OnlyFans, which has more than 130 million users and 2 million creators, has skyrocketed into popularity over the past several years by giving sex workers an organized platform to smutty photos and videos. The company is profitable, took in $375 million in revenue in 2020 and expects to take in $1.2 billion this year, according to Axios.
While OnlyFans doesn’t necessarily need outside investment to survive, Axios reported that it was looking to raise money to partially cash out majority owner and porn tycoon Leo Radivinsky and lend the company “more legitimacy.”
“Venture capitalists and other investors would typically jump at a firm with with OnlyFans’ financials — especially in a market where companies like Uber and Doordash command monster valuations despite losing hundreds of millions of dollars each year. But most investment firms shy away from investing in “vice” industries like porn, alcohol and firearms, leaving companies like OnlyFans with few options.
Even before Thursday’s porn ban, the profitable company had been trying to shed its smutty reputation.
