Do you know what OnlyFans is?
The one App that is more popular than any other in America is OnlyFans. Since the start of the pandemic, the streaming platform has grown by over 553%. And it’s getting more reach on a daily basis.
But what does a streaming site have to do with accountability? What a lot of people don’t know is that OnlyFans has a dark side to it: pornography, harassment, stalking, and even sex trafficking are all too common on this “anything goes” website.
So is OnlyFans really safe?
In this article, we’ll look into the background of OnlyFans, why it’s so dangerous, and how we can protect ourselves and our kids from the serious threat that it poses.
What is OnlyFans?
OnlyFans is an online streaming platform and app created in 2016 where users can pay for private content (photos, videos, and live streams) with a monthly subscription.
Fitness trainers, models, public figures, and other “content creators” use the platform to grow and monetize their fanbase.
Also read: The life of Sophie Rain, the controversial OnlyFans star and ‘devout Christian’
But unlike YouTube, Instagram, or Snapchat, OnlyFans allows explicit sexual content.
Because OnlyFans is by subscription only, content creators can share nude photos of themselves, live stream pornographic videos, and even virtually interact with their subscribers.
Effectively, OnlyFans is live porn. But it is also so much more than that.
Why is OnlyFans so dangerous?
The platform has become increasingly popular for people who have become unemployed during the pandemic, but it is also popular among sex workers.
With a subscription, anyone can find and view sex workers and pornographic actors without ever visiting a porn site.
This makes OnlyFans especially dangerous for kids.
The BBC recently looked into the rise of children under the age of 18 selling explicit content on –– guess what platform – OnlyFans.
Even though OnlyFans claims to have a verification process to keep children off the platform, these kids are using fake IDs, parents’ passports, or photos of friends to fake their identity and begin creating “content”.
These children might begin by just live streaming hobbies like music and fitness, but the promise of easy money is a downward spiral. With the incentive to get more subscribers and more money, a lot of creators get sucked into producing more and more explicit material because:
the fans want more of it
the fans are ready to pay for more of it
it seems to be safe and private
Not that private
So, is OnlyFans safe and private? OnlyFans claims that the site’s content is private and can’t be viewed without a subscription. Only, this isn’t true.
There have been countless cases of creators’ content being screen-shot, recorded, or hacked on the site.
This content is then shared on the internet, where it can be infinitely replicated. And once something is on the public internet, it is almost impossible to delete.
Sadly, a lot of these child and adult performers will be haunted by their images and videos for their entire lives.
Predators & traffickers use OnlyFans
What better place to scout for vulnerable young performers?
One of the scariest things about OnlyFans is that you can’t choose who subscribes to your content. So, even if you or a teenager is streaming fun content about their makeup routine, a predator can subscribe and begin speaking with them.
This kind of relationship can go south fast, especially if a predator or sex trafficker is encouraging a creator to slowly post more and more sexual videos or images. Predators are very skilled at this kind of grooming.
Highschool girls think OnlyFans has career potential
Vulnerable high school teens’ attitudes have been influenced by the likes of Andrew Tate and others. Fast cars, big money, and “owning” beautiful arm candy are intoxicating (and toxic) ideas.
As a result, “pick me” girls have a saying: “Only ugly girls get diplomas” in certain high school cultures. Hoping to make it big on OnlyFans, they plan to drop out of high school when they turn 18.
Parents and educators need to talk openly about these dangerous trends that can derail a teen’s potential.
Child Sexual Abuse Materials (CSAM) are an exploding problem thanks to sites like OnlyFans
So-called “child porn” is illegal and should be called CSAM. Sites like OnlyFans encourage and hide CSAM and, even worse, Self-Generated CSAM.
While organizations like the Internet Watch Foundation work tirelessly to remove CSAM, they report that they can’t keep up with the flood of online CSAM.
This is only one of the many ways that porn harms children, because more and more children are getting hooked on porn.
How do we stay safe?
Even if YOU haven’t heard about it, your partner, your kids, and your friends probably have.
Because OnlyFans is growing in popularity with memes and pop song references, more celebrities are heading over to make an account.
In fact, celebrities and influencers often lure teens to OnlyFans by creating a “thirst trap” on popular social media sites like Instagram and TikTok.
So you must learn to protect your kids, yourself, and your loved ones.
Here’s how.
Saving yourself
Not all accountability software flags OnlyFans. Ours does. But to further protect yourself, we have a few tips:
Make sure EverAccountable is installed on ALL your devices
Talk to your accountability partner (AP) if OnlyFans is a potential stumbling block for you. As with any stumbling block, talk to your AP
Be careful with what you post on ANY online platform; if it’s on the internet, it’s not coming off
If you want to follow someone online, don’t use OnlyFans. It’s a slippery slope, and way too easy to get sucked in
Protecting your kids
Perhaps the most vulnerable potential victims of OnlyFans are children. Here are a few tips on how to keep them safe:
Place parental controls on all of their internet-accessible devices. Use our GUIDE to talk to your kids before you give them a phone.
If your child is over 16 years old, install Ever Accountable on ALL their devices. Remember: OnlyFans can be accessed through desktop AND mobile devices.
Ensure you have secured your OWN devices; keep them locked and password protected.
Keep your personal IDs (licenses, passports) in safe, secure locations. Children can’t open OnlyFans accounts without adult IDs.
Talk to your kids about the dangers on the internet. Ask your teens if they’ve heard about it at school or if they have friends that are using it to make money. Encourage them to find other, safer ways to make money.
