OnlyFans
| File:OnlyFans logo 2.jpg | |
Screenshot
File:Screenshot OF.png OnlyFans home page from March 06, 2019 | |
Type of site | Membership Platform |
|---|---|
| Available in | English |
| Headquarters | , |
| URL | onlyfans |
| Launched | 2016 |
| Current status | Active |
OnlyFans is a social media service based in London, England. It can be accessed online and from mobile devices. After registration, creators run a subscription content service, with ways for them to build relationships and provide exclusive content to their subscribers, or “fans".[2]
The platform mimics the business model of Twitter. It is popular within the adult entertainment industry, but also hosts content creators from other genres such as physical fitness experts, independent musicians, fashion icons, comedy acts, and other creators who post regularly online. It allows content creators to receive funding directly from their fans on a monthly recurring basis as well as on tips and the pay-per-view (PPV) feature.[3]
PPV allows creators to send personalised content directly to their "fan" for a set price meaning the user can’t view the content until it’s been paid for, nor the creator able to receive payment before sending the content.[4]
As of February 2019, the site has 6 million registered users and claims to have paid out $100 million its 50,000 content creators.[3]
The company has been criticised by online media, including Gay Community News, for its content-sharing policies, and over content that some users find offensive.[5][6]
Business model
OnlyFans deliberately lacks restrictive content policy and permits users to share revealing or completely nude pictures of themselves in exchange for monthly membership fee.[7] Eighty percent of the fees collected for each feed go to the content creator, and the remaining twenty percent go to OnlyFans (although after merchant and processing fees, OnlyFans says its share is around 12 percent).[8]
Although a stand alone platform, OnlyFans is intrinsically linked with social media platforms including Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. OnlyFans allows content creators with influence and large fan bases to create fan-only content for fans that are willing to pay-to-view.[3]
Unlike other online platforms such as YouTube and Facebook, which use trained algorithms to identify potentially inappropriate content, OnlyFans monitors users and investigates complaints, while issues with copyright are handled by OnlyFans via the DMCA.[3]
History
The company was launched in 2016 by Fenix International Limited as a website for social media performers to allow their followers to subscribe for a monthly fee to see clips and photos. In 2017, Che McSorley, an English participant in the reality television series Ex on the Beach, started charging fans for pictures of her posing in a bikini in Dubai.[9] In the same year, Courtney Stodden urged followers to sign up for monthly subscription to her updates.[10] In 2018 Megan Barton-Hanson, a participant in the reality television series Love Island, posted naked videos of herself online for monthly subscription.[11]
Usage
OnlyFans has mainly been regarded as a pornography website by media outlets such as LADbible and Gay Community News (Dublin).[12][5]
Since its launch in 2016, the website has been used by sex workers.[13] Some creators use the service to share explicit photographs for pocket money, while professional sex workers like Christy Mack employ it to produce more profits.[14]
References
- ^ "Onlyfans.com Traffic, Demographics and Competitors - Alexa". www.alexa.com. Retrieved 2019-02-06.
- ^ "Teens Hooked on Porn". 2007. doi:10.1037/e670472007-001.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ a b c d "English: OnlyFans media pack" (PDF). 12 February 2019.
- ^ "How to: Send PPV messages to all your fans at once". 25 July 2018.
- ^ a b GCN (2019-02-07). "Beware Of 'MaleGeneral': A Site Sharing Private Images Sent On Hook Up Apps". GCN.IE. Retrieved 2019-03-04.
- ^ "How Sites Like OnlyFans and JustForFans Are Democratizing Gay Porn". www.out.com. 2018-10-18. Retrieved 2019-02-06.
- ^ "OnlyFans Guide For Adult Video Chat Models". Pandora Modeling. Retrieved 2019-02-06.
- ^ "How OnlyFans Changed Sex Work Forever". New York Times. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
- ^ "Che McSorley CHARGING fans for pics as sizzles in ANOTHER racy bikini pic". The Scottish Sun. 2017-11-02. Retrieved 2019-02-06.
- ^ Kindon, Frances; Duff, Seamus (2017-11-09). "Courtney Stodden starts charging randy fans to see her nudes". mirror. Retrieved 2019-02-06.
- ^ Martin, Laura (2018-06-10). "Newbie Megan poses for naked videos in an online subscription site". irishmirror. Retrieved 2019-02-06.
- ^ "Woman Makes £3,000 Per Month From Selling Her Selfies Online". Lad Bible. Retrieved 2019-03-04.
- ^ "OnlyFans is the site where porn is more intimate than ever". Dazed. Retrieved 2019-03-04.
- ^ "Behind the paywall of OnlyFans with model Jack Mackenroth". Gay Star News. 2018-07-19. Retrieved 2019-02-06.