Selling Sex in the Digital Age: Identity, Authenticity and Pleasure on OnlyFans

OnlyFans is a subscription-based social media platform that allows content creators to 'monetise their
influence' (Influencer Marketing Hub, 2020). Content creators can charge fans a monthly subscription
fee to access their content, receive tips and offer pay-per-view posts and direct messages. OnlyFans is
not exclusively for adult content, but its lack of restrictions means it has swiftly gained popularity with
the sex work community.
In recent years, the growing popularity of OnlyFans has made porn work more accessible than ever,
increasingly so since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. It has provided sex workers and porn
performers with a means of earning money on their own terms and provided a financial fallback for
many during this period of social distancing. Moreover, the shift from the stereotype of street corners
and abusive porn producers to this arguably safe and user-friendly online space has meant OnlyFans also
appeals to people who had no prior interest in porn or sex work.