OnlyFans will ban sexually explicit content as of October 1, leaving many sex workers scrambling to find new homes for their content — and leaving patrons to find new ways to support them.
The platform’s decision is just the latest in how the tech industry ostracizes sex workers. Despite its popularity, OnlyFans struggled to find investors and kneeled to banks and payout providers who balked at explicit content. The company is currently trying to raise more money.
OnlyFans hasn’t been totally clear about what it constitutes as sexually explicit content. It confirmed to Mashable that creators will be able to post nude photos and videos that fit within its policy, but the related rules don’t exist yet.
Thankfully, there are alternatives where adult creators can host their content with fewer restrictions and fans can enjoy it.
FanCentro is similar to OnlyFans in that fans can buy a subscription to their favorite creators, but you can also buy clips a la carte as well. The site takes a 25 percent cut of subscriptions; for reference, OnlyFans takes a 20 percent cut.
In a blog post after OnlyFans’ announcement, FanCentro stated that users can migrate their content from OF to FC. FanCentro also offers Centro University, dedicated to teaching creators how to create and maintain an online fanbase.
ManyVids calls itself a “one-stop shop” for content. It has individual videos, bespoke videos for fans, subscription options, camming, physical store items (like apparel), texting/chatting options, phone numbers to call content creators, tip options, and contests.
Depending on the type of content, ManyVids takes 20 to 40 percent of sales. According to users on Twitter, ManyVids doesn’t have a scheduling function at the time of publication.
Mygirlfund is a one-on-one chat service. Creators can also offer other content if they wish, like custom videos and photos. Creators receive 1 credit for every message they reply to ($1.80 according to CamGirlWiki), but their FAQ states that if creators decide to “take it to the next level,” they set their own rates.
AVN Stars claims it’s a social media site “by and for the industry.” Users can make money through a subscription model, but can also sell videos, messaging services, and receive tips from fans.
AVN Stars takes 20 percent of a creator’s sales.
Justforfans touts itself as the “ultimate” adult blogging platform and marketplace; they operate under a subscription model. Shortly after OnlyFans’ announcement, Justforfans released a statement saying its staff is completely comprised of sex workers and people who’ve long been in the porn industry — and that explicit content is never going away.
According to users on Twitter, Justforfans takes a 30 percent cut.
Ismygirl offers subscriptions, a la carte and custom videos and messages, and live content. Patrons can tip their creators, too. Ismygirl takes 20 percent of revenue.
Loyalfans is — what else? — a subscription-based site for adult creators that takes 20 percent of gross sales. In a statement after OnlyFans’ announcement, Loyalfans said it allows all forms of creative, consensual expression.
OnlyFans may have been the best-known site for independent adult creators, but there’s a plethora of others to choose from; they’ll undoubtedly be more, too. It’s unknown whether the pressure from financial institutions that OnlyFans faced will spread to these other sites, but for now, explicit content is safe elsewhere.
