American sex workers warned that OnlyFans’ decision to ban “sexually explicit” content will sharply reduce incomes and undermine safety by removing an important online workspace. Activists say the change could force some creators into riskier, street-based work.
“They are taking away our safe spaces. Nobody wants to protect us,” said Jane, an activist and OnlyFans creator. Since the pandemic pushed many professions online, OnlyFans had become a key platform for adult content creators to work independently and control earnings.
The ban threatens household finances as well as individual livelihoods. “This change will put workers on the street who could otherwise afford rent, it will starve the children of sex workers, and force remote workers into unsafe environments,” said Mary Moody, an online sex worker and co-chair of the Adult Industry Laborers and Artists Association.
Heather Berg, assistant professor at Washington University, said OnlyFans had empowered marginalized performers, including people of color and trans creators, by giving them more control over representation and safety—control she says is now at risk.
OnlyFans cited pressure from banking partners and payout providers, who have been tightening rules around adult content, as the reason for the policy shift. Advocates say the move is part of a broader crackdown on online adult platforms that has previously cut off income for thousands of sex workers, disproportionately affecting marginalized communities.
Valued at over $1 billion after rapid growth, OnlyFans now faces criticism for sidelining the creators who built its success. Commentators including Cathy Reisenwitz have described the pattern as “digital gentrification,” in which platforms profit from sex workers’ labor before removing them when businesses scale.
Observers note that platform sanitization, escalating internet censorship and legislation such as FOSTA-SESTA have contributed to repeated cycles of de-platforming and increased vulnerability among sex workers, prompting calls for stronger advocacy and alternative solutions.
Some creators are adopting new tools to adapt to the changing landscape. Developers of Stimulus, an AI-powered sales assistant aimed at OnlyFans creators, say the software automates fan engagement, offers personalized content recommendations, mimics a creator’s messaging style and manages sales workflows to help maintain income streams amid platform restrictions.
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