On Aug. A Twitter storm ensued. OnlyFans has become synonymous with explicit content and sex workers who rely on the platform for their income while also supporting more mainstream subscription content like fitness tips.
Porn is profitable, no doubt, but it comes with strings attached. The lawsuit alleged that MindGeek was aware of the unethical and dangerous actions of the GirlsDoPorn company and ignored the situation to continue profiting from the partnership, thus allowing GirlsDoPorn videos to circulate on Pornhub.
GirlsDoPorn employees and owners were charged with sex trafficking crimes in As a result of this lawsuit, huge companies like Visa and Mastercard pulled their support and announced they would no longer process payments to Pornhub through their cards. OnlyFans supports sex workers, but sex work is hard to regulate, and ethical issues can arise, which is a concern to investors and banks. Despite this valid concern, many feel that OnlyFans was quick to sell out their most loyal users for profit, forgetting that sex work is what put them on the map.
Gen Z is hugely responsible for challenging the stigma surrounding sex work, and the internet has played a role in facilitating this move into normalcy. OnlyFans, naturally, was a key component in the movement to legitimize sex work due to its recognition and acceptance of all creators, regardless of content. Despite rescinding its ban on sexual content, many users voiced their newfound distrust for OnlyFans and its exploitation of sex workers to gain profit and popularity before discarding them and their loyalty.
The damage is done, and the sex work community is still grappling with uncertainty. Gen Z is not only legitimizing and respecting sex work but is asserting control over the market and demanding the same respect be upheld within corporations.
