OnlyFans is sex work and pornography — stop calling it ‘empowering’

[stumbledin]

(I cant even get my hear around this site and how it works. Its bad enough that some women who desperately need women decide that could help them. But why would a film star humilate themselves like this. Its so sad and disturbing.)

" ...The 22-year-old Disney actor Bella Thorne purportedly made $1 million in her first 24 hours on OnlyFans (OF), a “content subscription service” that has risen significantly in popularity since the Covid-19 pandemic. Fans subscribe to the feeds of their favourite performers and pay one-off fees to unlock extra content which might include naked photographs, or even home-made porn clips.

OF is perceived as a safe, consequence-free way of selling sex and home-grown porn that empowers women. The site has 60 million users and 750,000 content creators globally. Content providers keep 80 per cent of their income, while the company takes the remaining 20 per cent. Unsurprisingly, OnlyFans attracted many new users during the Covid-19 lockdown.

But nothing about the porn industry empowers women. And that’s what OF is — a vaguely sanitised porn set. ... "

From an article by Julie Bindel www.standard.co.uk/comment/comment/onlyfans-sex-work-pornography-empowering-bella-thorne-a4545501.html

[QuentinWinters]

Omg. My young teen DD and her friend are totally on board with only fans as a way to make money. They think they are going to be strippers on there as adults and rake in the dollar.
I hate it. Have had a chat with DD about whether she thinks it's realistic that men would pay for nudes when they can see that for free on porn sites? And that most women will make nothing. And how would she feel if her boyfriend was paying on only fans?
The world has gone mad though when this is seen as empowering and a totes reasonable thing for young people to do

I'm just going to plug "hot girls wanted" on Netflix if anyone buys into that "empowering" crap

[Elsiebear90]

I blame social media, I see “articles” almost every day on Facebook from the likes of Ladbible, about some young woman who has made hundreds of thousands or even millions on there, or through or forms of sex work, meaning she can quit her job or degree. I despair at the message they are sending out through what are essentially (very misleading ) advertisements to young girls, “don’t bother to get an education or a career, just take your clothes off for the lads”

[stumbledin]

As I said in my intro I can see that some women because of personal circumstances might sign up to this, and from articles it looks like not that many make much money, or ony do if they agree to perfom more and more extremem stuff.

But I think once well know women sign up to it, it take on a whole other dimension.

Would these same women agree to attend a private party as a stripper?

And although SM plays a part, so much of films, tv and so on, portray women as having value when they present themselves a sex objetcs.

Totally bought into the male agenda.

I find it scarily depressing.

And seems so odd when hollywood has just gone through the Me Too question.

Do women honestly believe that if they are "in charge" somehow it isn't being exploited.

[Annasgirl]

Someone wrote recently that this is the equivalent of watching Pretty Woman and thinking that if you become a hooker you will marry a millionaire. You won't, but by the time you find that out, your life will be over. Same goes for any young girls buying into this fantasy.

But kudos to the men who run it and managed to get young women who are successful, come on to the site and promote it. I nearly crashed my car last week listening to my national right wing radio station promote this site as a way to empower young women.

[SecretWitch]

I am saddened by this. I was involved in sex work ( telephone chat) as a young person. I am still coping with the aftermath almost 20 years later.
What started as a lark became a dark nightmare that has led to ptsd.

I know women have the right to do as they wish with their bodies. I hope they consider the long term outcome of sex work.

[talesofginza]

There was a thread on Twitter recently (pasted below) of a young woman who had turned to 'cam work' when she was in a financial jam, and her story is pretty sad. It seems like it can be a slippery slope.

I assume given how new it is that there isn't much evidence on the long term mental health consequences of such work. But studies do say the brain doesn't stop developing until the age of 25. If this is attracting young women in much larger numbers than standard porn or other sex work, I think the government should look into setting a higher age limit do this kind of 'work' - perhaps making the platforms liable.

threadreaderapp.com/thread/1300035123212169216.html

[CaraDuneRedux]

Quentin that must be fucking awful for you - hopefully part of this is "teen wanting to get a rise out of her mum" and part of it is idiocy she'll grow out of. Would shock tactics work, like sitting down to watch "hot girls wanted" with her?

In any case, .

[Sparklfairy]

It's really sad. I know the 'sex work' angle grabs headlines but Only Fans isn't just for nudes/porn/sex stuff. For example there's a body builder guy on there where you can subscribe for $500 a year, and get personalised workouts, access to private message him with questions etc. Like an online personal trainer.

But nope, girls are only good to take their clothes off

If it encouraged women (people?) to put their business heads on and explore whether they have a niche as above that they could create content for, that would be one thing, but the sex stuff is pitched as easy money and low risk (as it's online). It also fails to mention the huge amount of self marketing you would have to do, make sure you stand out, build a fan base... which is why very few actually make money.

I went on the site and it asked me for my SM media follower count and told me I could make $14000 (yes thousand) a month Sorry but that's exploitation of desperate people to get them to sign up luckily I don't have any talents people would pay money for so I know it's bollocks

[QuentinWinters]

I think it's OK because I can talk to her about it. I'm just shocked at how enthusiastically the "sex work is empowering" is being accepted by young teens. I suppose it's not too surprising because they don't have the experience or critical thinking skills to question too much. But these sites know what they are doing.
That twitter link about depop/cam work

[coronaway]

The main beneficiary is the pimp owner of the site.

I can't help feel a lot of these women will regret their decision in a few years later when their nude pictures (and worse) are circulating freely around the web.

Will the employment office start recommending only fans as a job choice for job seeker claimants?

[MrGHardy]

"They think they are going to be strippers on there as adults and rake in the dollar."

That is the lie they need to sell. And they do it well sadly.

[nevermorelenore]

I've seen some very naive women defending OF. Apparently its 'totally private' as only the people who subscribe see your nudes. Of course, none of them are going to be leaked outside of OF and be on the internet forever. Possibly with your real name if you get doxed (which is not exactly difficult).

Being a stripper is probably a better plan. Less likely that it'll come back to haunt you.