In case you’re not familiar, OnlyFans has exploded in popularity since it launched in 2016. The Essex-based Stokely family played an outsize role in helping the platform reach more than 377.5 million user accounts globally. The adult industry has changed dramatically in recent years. Platforms such as OnlyFans are empowering creators by opening new avenues for financial success and personal expression. This extraordinary growth comes with significant challenges. Experts, including some of these speakers, pointed out these problems at a recent annual adult industry conference in Europe.
The conference highlighted the nuances of the adult industry, with Adult Entertainment Creators freely sharing their journey and experiences. On average, people are first exposed to pornography at just 13 years old. This early exposure is a good opportunity to start crucial conversations about the technology’s far-reaching potential implications. Across the UK, statistics find that one in three men are watching pornography weekly or more. This is especially important because it illustrates how normalized adult material use is.
By design, OnlyFans allows creators to retain 80% of their gross income. The platform takes a 20% cut from those hard-earned bucks. This structure has attracted many content creators, leading to a competitive environment where the top 10% of creators earn 73% of total revenue on the platform. The median account only earns $180, with elite accounts making upwards of $100,000 per month.
Creators on OnlyFans benefit from a referral program. Every time someone brings a new member to sign up, they make 5% commission from those new members’ earnings. This further incentivizes creators to grow their networks and to look for ways to monetize their content even further. Age limitations are deep. OnlyFans mandates that all of their creators be 18 years or older.
The theme of this year’s conference was empowerment. Thoughtful panels explored the challenges of surviving and thriving as an entertainer, sex worker and more. With Spanish director Paulita Pappel winning the award for best director at the event, it’s a remarkable success amidst a very difficult industry. Adult content creator Brittany Andrews shared that the best way to thrive is to go to industry conferences, meeting people who can help you navigate the new waters.
Even as we celebrate our success, too many of our creators are battling serious health issues. One, Aery Tiefling, for example, has had a lot of issues with pneumonia lately, making it hard for her to create content on a reliable basis. Her experience highlights the extreme precariousness of this type of work.
Much like the adult industry, our work at S&E is not without its controversies. Just last week, OnlyFans reached a settlement of charges filed against it by the US Federal Trade Commission and the state of Utah. The settlement mandates the development of a program to prevent the proliferation of child sexual abuse material on its platforms. It’s supposed to stop the spread of nonconsensual content. Moreover, OnlyFans will provide Utah with $5 million in relief by way of a civil penalty.
As discussions moved, writer Lily Phillips provided a glimpse into the personal consequences of being an artist.
“Do you mind if I show you something? It’s quite explicit.”
She (click to tweet) went on to explain the greater ramifications of deciding to pursue this profession.
“I have 110% always said: think about it a while,” – Lily Phillips.
There was a fascinating duality at play in the making of adult content, as Nic Young shared insights with us about what audiences want.
“It’s a big commitment. It affects every aspect of your life for the rest of your lifetime – relationships, friends, family – the social constructs you get from being a sex worker. A lot of people have a lot to say about what we do,” – Lily Phillips.
Her comments spoke to the broader societal attitudes regarding fantasy and consent.
“Ultimately, a lot of the fans are relatively fickle. There are some creators who like the idea of having their image frozen in time. They want to continue earning money in this space, so they like the idea that they can effectively earn off how they appear today, and give themselves the career longevity they don’t necessarily have,” – Nic Young.
Alex Kekesi deeply impacted conversations around establishing personal boundaries and perceptions within the adult entertainment industry.
“I’m trying to get random dudes to buy porn! That’s my goal!” – Leah Koons.
He mentioned how different perspectives and experiences of this field affect one’s experiences.
“That’s not incest, that’s fantasy, so it’s permitted,” – Leah Koons.
As technology moves ever forward, creators are looking for new and exciting ways to capture the attention of their audiences. As one anonymous male participant stated, AI has made some major strides in the porn industry.
“What’s empowering for some people is not the same for everyone, right?” – Alex Kekesi.
In the middle of these discussions of tech challenges and monetization, one male adult film producer summed up the emotional add-on that’s present across the industry.
“Something that might feel very violent for me or for you is someone else’s good time,” – Alex Kekesi.
As technology continues to evolve, creators are exploring innovative ways to engage their audiences. One anonymous male participant remarked on advancements in artificial intelligence within adult content production.
“You wouldn’t know it was AI!”
Lily Phillips also discussed how AI could redefine content creation.
“They would know it was AI, but some men might want to see me in positions that I can’t get into myself. I’m not that flexible, but an AI bot could do the splits, and that might differentiate from the content that I have on my own page,” – Lily Phillips.
Amidst these conversations about technology and monetization, one male adult film producer encapsulated the industry’s emotional component.
“We sell serotonin, cortisol, dopamine. We are all about emotions. I think there’s no threat to creators.”