What's OnlyFans?

Social media platforms that give creators a technique to earn cash are popping up everywhere in the web; there's every part from TikTok’s creator fund to onlyfootfetish.org Twitter’s tip jar. But apps particularly designed to funnel cash into creator’s pocketbooks are fewer and further between. The 2 most well-known are Patreon and OnlyFans, and their offerings are distinctly completely different: podcasts vs porn.

But do you have to - or are you able to even - post sexually explicit work on OnlyFans? Are you required to message back and forth with strangers? Are you able to truly earn a living on the platform? What's OnlyFans, anyway?

We're here to answer your questions.

What is OnlyFans?

OnlyFans was began in 2016 by British entrepreneur Tim Stokely, now CEO, in line with the positioning. Its essential aim is to help content material creators and artists "monetize their content while creating authentic relationships with their fanbase." This principally means the platform was created to let customers post content material behind a paywall, which followers must subscribe to for entry. Fans may pay more to message back and forth with creators and "tip" to get content material created on demand that's particularly tailor-made to their pursuits and tastes.

Do creators need to publish a particular sort of content material?

For nearly all of OnlyFans' existence, anyone might make an account, and they'll post no matter they suppose they'll get people to pay for - sexually explicit or otherwise. However the platform was well-known for being the place the place creators publish lewd content. Just take Beyoncé's verse in Megan Thee Stallion’s "Savage" remix: "Hips TikTok once i dance/On that Demon Time, she may begin an OnlyFans (OnlyFans)." The brand new York Times has dubbed the platform the "paywall of porn." Bella Thorne started an OnlyFans and was accused of scamming sex workers.

That's, until late August 2021, when the platform announced it could ban sexually specific content material on the site beginning on October 1, 2021. The move left many sex staff scrambling to find places to work. Creators can be allowed to post some specific content material whether it is in line with OnlyFans' coverage, which implies photographs and videos can't contain sexual intercourse, masturbation, and some "extreme" or "offensive" depictions of genitals. OnlyFans said it was making the move as a result of, whereas there are plenty of users and creators on the app, they can not pull in enough investors. But their announcement also got here after BBC News approached OnlyFans for a response to leaked paperwork that showed that the platform allowed "moderators to offer a number of warnings to accounts that post illegal content material on its online platform earlier than deciding to shut them."

There are additionally fitness instructors, dancers, and artists who all use the platform to submit paid content material and connect with followers. The platform is obviously working to attract buyers who may help make it more mainstream and make more money: Think YouTube mixed with Cameo, a spot for celebrities and athletes to attach with fans. Floyd Mayweather is already on the app, to not put up nudes, but to share "never earlier than seen content material whereas getting to know top followers." Cardi B is on it, too, to share bits about her private life. This may appeal to new customers and advertisers who is likely to be otherwise averse to placing their brand on a site with such a fame for grownup content material.

In the event you do wish to help sex employees, there are, thankfully, alternative sites.

How a lot money can creators make on it?

It depends upon the sort of content material you are producing, how a lot attain you have, and a whole host of different variables, but creators could make wherever from a couple of hundred dollars a month to a few thousand. In line with OnlyFans, greater than 100 creators have earned over $1 million since monetizing their content material on the platform. For the reason that platform started in 2016, it has paid out over $3 billion to creators.

How do you subscribe to creators?

You do not have to be a creator to make use of the platform - in truth, it is fueled by customers who do not post on the platform. To be able to subscribe to creators, you merely have to create an OnlyFans account, go to the house web page, and discover someone you are taken with following. Check out their subscription tiers, and resolve what kind of bundle or provide you are curious about paying for. It's also possible to tip a creator any quantity you need, or pay for messages and individualized content material with pay-per-view messages that vary anyplace from a pair dollars to more than $100, relying on the creator.