Originally Published at Townhall
By Haley McNamara
When OnlyFans abruptly announced a new policy prohibiting pornographic content, many around the world were shocked.
Over the last year, news outlets and social media alike were abuzz with narratives about the frontier of “safe” sex work and glossy profile pieces about young ladies buying beautiful houses with the profits from sending strangers images on OnlyFans. The company gained momentum in light of COVID-19 and socio-economically vulnerable people turned to selling images of themselves online in order to make ends meet.
Then, just as abruptly, OnlyFans changed its mind in less than a week, and recommitted itself to pornography.
There was significant backlash to OnlyFans from content creators who felt betrayed by the platform’s momentary no-porn policy. But in reality, this platform was already betraying them, and is still betraying them every day, by enabling an environment rife with sexual exploitation. OnlyFans, like other pornography sites, will always gloss over the reality that prostitution is never “safe” and inevitably leads to physical, emotional, and psychological trauma.
Now, OnlyFans will face likely criminal investigations and lawsuits from survivors. But the question of sexual exploitation and verifying age and consent is one which continues to loom over the pornography industry at large.
OnlyFans will not be the last platform to have to answer to it.
