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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Only Fans to ban porn ...

87 replies

MurielSpriggs · 19/08/2021 23:43

... after pressure from payment processors (banks)
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/aug/19/onlyfans-to-ban-adult-material-after-pressure-from-payment-processors

Am I being unreasonable to have mixed feelings about this?

Less porn. Less objectification of women. Less women being drawn into sex work.

Or one "no-contact" option removed from such women (and men). And whether the outcome is right or wrong, I'm a bit uncomfortable about banks controlling what is and isn't available online.

OP posts:
MNmonster · 19/08/2021 23:47

It's already been happening with other social media sites for a while, such as tumblr a few years ago. None of them want to be associated with 'adult' content potentially getting into the hands of 'children'.

I imagine there will still be plenty of other platforms popping up for people to provide their services.

YellowDingy2 · 20/08/2021 00:03

I'm not convinced this is a good move for women. OF seems to be a way for some women to have complete control over the sex work they do, which has historically not been the case. I don't think removing that opportunity will be a positive change.

abcdeg · 20/08/2021 11:38

@YellowDingy2

I'm not convinced this is a good move for women. OF seems to be a way for some women to have complete control over the sex work they do, which has historically not been the case. I don't think removing that opportunity will be a positive change.

Agree- this is OF acting in their own interest, nothing to do with measures to protect women, nor will it. This most definitely won't mean less porn.

I'm not strictly anti porn but OF was so much better than dodgy tube sites in terms of women and couples producing their own content and setting their own prices

Igotjelly · 20/08/2021 11:39

If nothing else it doesn’t seem a particularly smart business move. What on Earth other content is even on Only Fans 🤷‍♀️

Chicchicchicchiclana · 20/08/2021 11:40

I'm glad to hear it.

Ponoka7 · 20/08/2021 11:41

I agree that this is nothing to do with cutting down on porn and protecting anyone vulnerable. This type of rules always mean that independent women earners miss out, but platforms that rely on exploiting women, don't.

Ponoka7 · 20/08/2021 11:41

@Chicchicchicchiclana, why?

lubeybooby · 20/08/2021 11:42

I think it's wrong of them to have profited and built their business on sex workers and then abandon them. It kept many going during the pandemic, safe, no contact etc. I'd also reckon their non porn customer base won't be enough to keep them going

It just leaves space for the next developer to swoop in and build a new version

Shirleyphallus · 20/08/2021 11:42

I feel sorry for the Love Island stars and Lauren Goodger. That’s basically their entire income isn’t it

MackenCheese · 20/08/2021 11:50

Er... and why was this announced on the radio news? My ds13 would've immediately googled it 🙄🙄😳

DerAlteMann · 20/08/2021 11:50

If there's no porn, what's the point of it?

MurielSpriggs · 20/08/2021 11:56

@lubeybooby

I think it's wrong of them to have profited and built their business on sex workers and then abandon them. It kept many going during the pandemic, safe, no contact etc. I'd also reckon their non porn customer base won't be enough to keep them going

It just leaves space for the next developer to swoop in and build a new version

They have no choice. The "payment processors" (visa, PayPal etc) will pull the plug if they don't ditch the porn content.

I'm much more uncomfortable about this to be honest. These organisations have such power now that they can decide what gets published and what doesn't.

OP posts:
parietal · 20/08/2021 12:01

if they could show their content was all legal (consenting, no underage etc) then they could keep going.

but they can't so it is right that they have to stop.

Monkeybusinesss · 20/08/2021 12:03

@MackenCheese
Really! That’s your only comment! That’s hilarious

RampantIvy · 20/08/2021 12:05

DD's manipulative and narcissistic bully at school rakes in several thousand a month showing explicit porn on OF. If they pull the plug on her activities I won't be upset.

SimonJT · 20/08/2021 12:06

@Igotjelly

If nothing else it doesn’t seem a particularly smart business move. What on Earth other content is even on Only Fans 🤷‍♀️
Theres loads of stuff on there that isn’t remotely sexual, that side of it is still fairly new. I subscribe to a crocheter on there, a friend is a PT and he has subscribers to his PT service on there.
pommepommefrites · 20/08/2021 12:07

How old is the bully? It's worrying that schoolkids are doing so well on there 🤮

Shirleyphallus · 20/08/2021 12:07

@RampantIvy

DD's manipulative and narcissistic bully at school rakes in several thousand a month showing explicit porn on OF. If they pull the plug on her activities I won't be upset.
Honestly this sounds like teenage bluff. How do you know this is true?!
SilverTimpani · 20/08/2021 12:09

What’s left on only fans without the porn?!

Tbh I don’t think it’s a good thing. For sex workers, it’s a safe way to work on their own terms without risk of being attacked or taken advantage of. It also puts power in the hands of the creators, rather than pimps / abusers etc.

I don’t think it’s going to do anything to reduce the amount of porn out there or the number of people engaged in it. It just gives those involved one less safe avenue for work.

abcdeg · 20/08/2021 12:20

@MackenCheese

Er... and why was this announced on the radio news? My ds13 would've immediately googled it 🙄🙄😳

He certainly knows what porn and only fans is, sorry to break it to you

RampantIvy · 20/08/2021 12:20

@pommepommefrites

How old is the bully? It's worrying that schoolkids are doing so well on there 🤮
21. The bullying occurred in year 10, and it was vicious.
SuperstoreFan · 20/08/2021 12:26

Isn't porn their entire business model?

Whyo · 20/08/2021 12:30

Very uneasy at banks controlling this. Why just OF too? Plenty of paid for porn online.

There’s already a few OF copy websites creators will just move platforms.

CoatesCat · 20/08/2021 12:32

Its not the banks deciding what can and can't get published. There's calls in the US for investigation into allegations that onlyfans are hosting underage and illegal material. They obviously don't have the capability to filter out this content so have to ban as much as they can and still try and retain a customer base. At any major bank they would have to justify why they would want to take onlyfans on as a client if they are subject to investigations by US regulators (who have global reach) and they can't use revenues as part of the justification. Most major banks risk appetite statements say they won't touch anything in "redlight" industries. Even the Dutch banks will only do red-light in very limited restricted circumstances

SuperstoreFan · 20/08/2021 12:39

I've read online that a lot of religious organizations are putting pressure on OF too.

To be fair if they can't prevent child abuse from being published online then yeah they needed to do something, I'm just not sure that committing business suicide was the way to go.