Long gone are the days of dodgy DVDs and latenight TV. Now, porn lives in our pockets, and rather than users actively seeking out explicit content, instead it is being thrown at us on our social media feeds. With the likes of OnlyFans, sex work hasn’t just been made more accessible to watch, but also to participate in, and whilst we live in a time where women are told that every choice they make is empowering, we must stop and think: is agency really the same as liberation?
And what happens when those choices directly feed into the patriarchy, rather than fight it? The pandemic saw a major shift in modern pornography. Whilst adult entertainment became harder to make, sites like OnlyFans skyrocketed in use to allow actors an alternative source of income, with the benefit of direct viewer interaction.
Many people outside the industry were also drawn into its accessibility and flexibility, believing it could be a sort of “side hustle” during a national financial crisis. I cannot count how many times I’ve heard someone say “I’ll just start an OnlyFans if it doesn’t work out”. And whilst on the surface we’re sold this blasé, luxurious lifestyle that so many creators flaunt on social media, there lies a darker side to it.
Because OnlyFans is still sex work—and it’s no walk in the park. What might start off as innocent feet pics can quickly tumble into something far more extreme. The sexual harassment, violence, and stalking that creators frequently experience is hardly ever the focus of conversation.
Even famous singer Lily Allen has spoken out about the increasing pressure from fans to create more explicit content—a path many may hesitate to take but see as their only option to keep bringing in money. The women who rake it in on this site aren’t your average women either. They’re usually white, middle class, and have had a bunch of work done to meet the beauty standards the app is wanting to promote.
Meanwhile, the majority of creators are barely making more than £100 a month. And whilst some argue OnlyFans to be “sex-worker friendly”, the reality is far from it—with the company taking 20% of commissions and closing down accounts they believe to be inappropriate or harmful, leaving people with no income and no answers. The surge of OnlyFans has been normalised in ways we cannot ignore.
It has glamorised sex work and increasingly woven it into our everyday culture. I’m not suggesting we shun those for doing it, but the message it sends younger generations is something we must think about. Because money does not equal consent.
And how equal are we really if women’s bodies are still being sold as commodities?