A recent investigation by the BBC has revealed that women are facing threats, attacks, and potential trafficking issues on OnlyFans, a popular British tech company with a value of £2.5 billion. Journalist Amber Haque interviewed over 60 content creators and uncovered instances where many of them were being exploited by the managers they had enlisted to assist in expanding their subscriber base and income.
The investigation discovered that a significant number of women, around 83%, were coerced into producing more explicit content than they were comfortable with, while 60% reported being threatened or blackmailed when attempting to terminate their contracts. Allegations of exploitation, coercion, and even violence emerged, with some agencies potentially engaging in modern slavery practices to manage creators on the platform.
Despite OnlyFans promoting itself as a platform that empowers and supports independence, especially for women creating intimate content ranging from lingerie photos to explicit videos, the BBC investigation found a different reality. Many managers were found to assert control over the creators, locking them out of their accounts and redirecting payments away from them. While managers typically take a 50% share of the earnings, there were cases where individuals claimed their managers took 100%, leaving them with no income.
Instances of intimidation included serious threats of violence, including harm to children, as well as coercion through fake legal notices and threats to disclose their OnlyFans involvement to family members. The investigation also uncovered a chat forum, OFM Empire, where managers shared control tactics, including advising each other to use intimidation tactics such as threats and vandalism.
One single mother, Rebecca from south Wales, shared her distressing experience of being pressured into real-life sex work by her agency shortly after joining OnlyFans. She faced verbal abuse, threats, and harassment after attempting to protect her earnings by changing passwords and denying access to her account. The situation escalated when she became a target of physical violence, leading to a break-in at her home where she was assaulted.
The BBC investigation highlighted the urgent need for industry regulation and accountability, with prominent figures within the adult entertainment industry also calling for change. The prevalence of exploitative practices, coercion, and potential human trafficking within the management structures of OnlyFans has raised serious concerns among experts and activists. There is a growing demand for legal action and tighter regulations to protect vulnerable individuals from exploitation within the industry.
OnlyFans, in response to the allegations, emphasized its commitment to user safety and disclaimed any association with third-party management agreements. The company stated that it empowers creators to control and monetize their content, maintaining strict safety measures and ongoing monitoring to protect its community. OnlyFans urged individuals experiencing exploitation to report such incidents to the platform and law enforcement.
The BBC documentary, “OnlyFans: Inside the Machine,” sheds light on the darker side of the platform and airs on BBC3 and BBC1, with streaming available on BBC iPlayer. The revelations from the investigation have sparked discussions about the need for increased oversight and accountability in the online content creation industry.