OnlyFans Adult Content Ban

Overview

OnlyFans Adult Content Ban or OnlyFans Porn Ban refers to the news that the popular site OnlyFans would block sexually explicit content starting in October 2021. This was seen as a slap in the face to the userbase to many, which largely consists of individuals who upload videos of themselves to the site as content, as well as spurning their desired customer base who consume those videos. The news resulted in a viral debate and influx of memes over the following days across multiple platforms, many relating it to Tumblr's adult content ban in 2018. One week later, OnlyFans reversed the decision.

Background

On August 19th, 2021, it was reported by Bloomberg^[1] that OnlyFans decided that in October they would prohibit sexually explicit content from being uploaded and shared on the platform as an update to their code of conduct. The reasoning given was an increase in pressure from banks and payment authorization services, which is the same reason given by both Pornhub and Tumblr when they both removed a large amount of pornographic content on their platforms. Though the banning of such content isn't starting until October, many are still predicting that the company will suffer immensely, based on what happened to Tumblr following their porn removal in 2018.

Decision Reversal

On August 25th, 2021, following a wave of backlash from sex workers on the site, OnlyFans^[6] announced that the planned decision to prohibit explicit sexual content was reversed.

Online Reactions

The reactions online are varied between three distinct factions. There are people who are enraged at OnlyFans because they are now striking back at the users that helped the site grow to the large size it has now, such as Twitter^[2] user DaniDeahl, who made the point that platforms do not care about creators because the creators need the platforms more than the platforms need creators (shown below, left). At the same time, Twitter^[3] user @JacksonRickun made the observation that OnlyFans looks like it's about to travel the path that Tumblr took, in which too many creators left and the site population cratered (shown below, right).

Another reaction in relation to OnlyFans not allowing sexually explicit videos is the same as the Thot Audit in which people are happy that the women who made money on OnlyFans are now going to have to find other ways to make their money. This is especially seen in memes, such as an example made by Twitter^[4] user @OGMeowMeow that has a disheartened Squidward with a photoshopped headset on his head, working a minimum wage job (shown below).

The last group of reactions isn't directed at the userbase, who some considered to be "sex workers," or malice at OnlyFans but simply just posting the memes about how OnlyFans is "shooting itself in the foot." One such example came from Twitter^[5] user Luulubuu, who tweeted that OnlyFans was going to be a Spirit Halloween in October (shown below).

Search Interest

External Resources