OnlyFans reverses ban on posting ‘sexually explicit’ content, after receiving necessary ‘assurances’

OnlyFans, an online subscription platform known for adult content, on Wednesday scrapped its new policy that would have prohibited users from posting any material containing “sexually explicit conduct”.

“We have secured assurances necessary to support our diverse creator community and have suspended the planned October 1 policy change,” OnlyFans tweeted on Wednesday.

Earlier in the week, the London-based company said the prohibition policy was in compliance with the requests of its banking partners and payment providers.

OnlyFans did not immediately respond to questions for more detail about the “secured assurances”.

In an interview with the Financial Times, OnlyFans founder Tim Stokely blamed “unfair” treatment by banks that made it difficult for the company to pay creators.

“An official communication to creators will be emailed soon,” OnlyFans said in a separate tweet. The company was not immediately available for comment.

The platform, which was founded in 2016 and has boomed in popularity during the Covid-19 pandemic, says it has 130 million users.

The website carved out a niche in the growing creator economy, an industry of online content creators who are earning money directly from fans through social media platforms like YouTube and Instagram.

The popularity of the social-media service exploded during the pandemic as sex workers, musicians and online influencers used it to charge fans for exclusive access to photos, videos and other material.

That wider appeal has, however, also brought additional scrutiny and OnlyFans has become more of a forum for musicians, fitness instructors and chefs than sex workers.

While many of its most-popular creators post videos of themselves engaging in sexual behaviour, several mainstream celebrities like Bella Thorne, Cardi B and Tyga also have accounts.