OnlyFans
- OnlyFans plans to block sexually explicit content later this year.
- The decision represents a major change for the startup that gained success in NSFW content.
- The company said some nude photos and videos will still be allowed on the site.
- See more stories on Insider's business page.
OnlyFans plans to block its users from posting pornographic content on its site.
The company said on Thursday that it will implement the new policy in October, Bloomberg first reported.
"In order to ensure the long-term sustainability of our platform, and the continue to host an inclusive community of creators and fans, we must evolve our content guidelines," the company said, per Bloomberg.
OnlyFans will still allow users to post nude photos and videos, so long as they do not violate OnlyFans' policies, Bloomberg reported. The company did not immediately respond to questions about the updated policies.
The decision to ban sexually explicit content reflects a major branding change for the site that has gained much of its success from pornographic content. To date, the site hosts over 130 million users and has paid creators over $3 billion since it was created in 2016.
The decision could impact over 1 million creators who use the site, according to the company's numbers. It's unknown exactly what share of creators make money solely on explicit content. The site has long been known as a source of income for sex workers, especially during the pandemic when many had to pivot from in-person roles.
OnlyFans has faced difficulty in recent months drumming up investor interest, according to a recent report from Axios. The decision to eliminate sexually explicit content could help the platform lure in investors that may be wary of the site's NSFW brand.
It's not the first time the platform has attempted to shift its image away from pornographic content, in order to cater to more mainstream celebrities and creators as opposed to sex worker. On Tuesday, OnlyFans launched a free streaming service called OFTV - an on-demand site that would focus on topics like fitness and cooking instead of sexually explicit content.