THE POWER OF SPEAKING UP

Recently, OnlyFans announced it would be banning any sexually explicit content on the site beginning Oct 1, 2021, putting thousands of sex workers in a very compromising position. The site was very helpful during the pandemic as performers, dancers, and sex workers were some of the first to be affected by the COVID-chopping block.

For a few days, the new rules to sexual content on OnlyFans were "nudity only "as long as it complies with their Acceptable Use Policy, saying, "These changes are to comply with the requests of our banking partners and payout providers (source)."

The uproar among the sex-positive industry was LOUD. Podcasts, Instagram stories & reels, Twitter, and even TV/Radio lit up with words of anger, confusion, and protest. So many loopholes, so many double standards, and the even bigger issue—"What now?"

"Sex work has always been risky in online operations. The practical risk of hosting illegal content means platforms must exert constant vigilance for things like child sex abuse material, malicious content like revenge porn and unwanted leaks, and everyday internet threats like piracy." (Tech Crunch)

With the rapidly growing popularity of OnlyFans, it was getting more difficult for the subscription-based site to manage and vet every single piece of content published, and investors were growing concerned about minors possibly slipping into the site. According to multiple sources, the payout providers of OnlyFans were receiving a lot of backlash and protests from religious and feminist groups demanding that the site do something about the sexually explicit content on the site.

But just 6 days later, after making the huge announcement on banning sexually explicit content, OnlyFans reversed the ban, stating, "Thank you to everyone for making your voices heard. We have secured assurances necessary to support our diverse creator community and have suspended the planned October 1 policy change," it wrote in a tweet. "OnlyFans stands for inclusion and we will continue to provide a home for all creators."

And just like that, they managed to create a toxic relationship between the site and the influencers/creators. The confusion (and shock) is still swirling around as this article is being written, but what this does prove is the power of speaking up and standing up for yourself and what you believe in.

Details are unclear about exactly what happened, what sparked the change of heart, but I want to believe that it was the loud and undeniable screams of the creators who work tirelessly to create great, original content and depend on the site to help get them through.

In this new age of technology and information, we must be able to adapt quickly to the ever-changing landscape of the Internet and the risks it brings. Laws need to be passed, realities need to be met and things need to change. We cannot escape sex work, and yes, there is an unfortunate dark side to it. But if all we focus on are the dark, negative sides of sex, we are doing a huge disservice to the people who strive to bring education, facts, research, acceptance, and safety to the sex-positive industry.

When you believe in something so strongly, especially if it's yourself, you have to speak up even if your voice shakes. Even if you know most everyone is going to disagree with you. And when you do that, you inspire others to do so, and that's how the sex workers of OnlyFans clapped back. The power in their numbers left a mark they couldn't ignore.

Who knows what's next for OnlyFans and what is to become of consensual sex work in the working realm. But I think it's high time we learn to accept sex work as an actual form of work and stop allowing the negative aspects of it to override the educational, physical, and mental benefits that could come from it. I would love to see a future where it is the sex industry that can actually help stop things like sex trafficking and sexual abuse. Because it's us who have the knowledge, the curiosity and the open minds to dig deep and understand the details of it. We can save lives. It's time to let our voices heard and break the stigmas surrounding sex.