Onlyfans has almost 170 million users. It is a millionaire deal which, however, hides a dark reality. Their content creators put your mental health at risk in the ways explained below.
OnlyFans is a crowdsourced amateur pornography platform . That is, subscribers pay to view adult content and creators are free to expose themselves as they see fit. 21st century voyeurism takes its toll, and sex work thus acquires an extra layer of sophistication to continue as a business . However, Onlyfans affects mental health.
There are many young people who have found a profitable way to earn without leaving home. An Internet connection and a computer with a camera are enough for them. However, selling explicit content through these mechanisms is not harmless . The porn industry always hides dark corners behind it; aspects, many of which are linked to psychological well-being.
What is the reality that many of these anonymous people live today? In turn, what effects do these networks have on the users themselves? All of this will be discussed as you read.
The harassment suffered by the content creators of Onlyfans from users is a recurring experience that puts a strain on their mental health.
Content creators on Onlyfans: psychological effects
No one can deny that, with the advent of the Internet, the world of pornography has found its best territory . Technology in Society magazine highlights the problem and how digital technologies have boosted the buying and selling of sexual services. Onlyfans is the clear result of this leap in quality.
It is at a point of normalization of digital pornography. The pandemic has made OnlyFans a very relevant platform and a large number of men and women have found a way to earn an income from it. In fact, the subscription service has at least 170 million users.
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However, there are adult content creators who, over time, end up abandoning this way of working. Far from being “easy money,” it is a task that often leaves mental health consequences , which we continue to analyze.
Humiliating prejudice against women
It’s not the same to be a female content creator as it is a man. In general, women who expose themselves on Onlyfans experience a higher level of harassment, contempt and prejudice than men . The University of New South Wales , Australia conducted an investigation where they pointed out the same thing.
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Sex workers, almost traditionally, carry the weight of society’s stigma and violent narratives. It matters little that, on this occasion, they perform the task of performing in front of a camera and selling amateur pornographic content . The objectification and criticism they receive are the same. Nothing seems to change.
Content creators often interact with their users and this can be psychologically exhausting, perceiving themselves as mere dehumanized “objects”.
The loneliness of creators of sexual content
Some people assume that working on Onlyfans is a quick and easy way to earn money. What many do not realize is that creating pornography is a lonely and psychologically destructive dynamic . It is not a pleasant or sophisticated task and can become daunting over time.
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Many girls internalize the stigma associated with sex work, gradually undermining their self-esteem and self-concept. Some of them carry out this work without their environment knowing about it, thus increasing the perception of loneliness, shame and emotional distress . Articles such as those published in Sexuality and Culture point to such psychological effects.
The burden of loneliness associated with sex work leads, in many cases, to the onset of mood disorders such as depression . Therefore, this is an aspect that should not be overlooked.
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The harassment and the uncontrollable effect of the materials created
Onlyfans allows interaction between content creators and users. After all, it is a platform where the transactional is the key and dynamic element at all times. This has clear implications for the mental health of those exposed.
- A good part of the creators of Onlyfans suffers harassment from their followers.
- Their contents are not protected, as they repeatedly end up being leaked into other digital scenarios.
- Users can become demanding and request certain actions that exceed the limits allowed for creators.
- Onlyfans makes it easy to form parasocial relationships. In other words, maybe subscribers have a liking, admiration, fondness, or obsession with some content creator. It is possible to go from lust to falling in love, giving shape to uncomfortable situations.
- In 2021, The Avery Centerreleased a report on Onlyfans. According to the document, 30% of those who view themselves on this platform have been threatened with deleting their profile if they do not create new content. Pressure from developers in this space often conditions them to produce more explicit content; this encourages the feeling of prostitution.
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It is common for material from the platform to end up being distributed by Telegram, which is a clear violation of its creators, who are publicly exposed, with all that that entails.
What consequences does Onlyfans have on users’ mental health?
In a study by Cleveland State University, they specify that a large part of Onlyfans users are married white men. We could also say that this platform is a stage for many people who feel lonely and dissatisfied. Even for those who are simply curious
It is true that this is a new field that requires even more research to understand its implications and meaning. However, this platform is yet another form of pornography, which has had a great impact on society for decades and whose effects we will explore below.
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Changes in sexual behavior
Frequent consumption of pornography changes the sexual behavior of those exposed to it. It is common for those who are used to seeing this adult content to exhibit more violent sexual behavior towards women . Works such as those done at the University of New Hampshire allude to such an important factor.
This is something that significantly mediates the way adolescents construct their sexual-affective relationships. Therefore, in the case of Onlyfans, what is often seen is how users ask creators for increasingly explicit and violent content in many cases.
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On the other hand, excessive consumption of this material could cause sexual dysfunction on a daily basis . When they are with their regular partners they don’t feel the same excitement as when they watch Onlyfans.
Porn addiction is a mental health sequel to using Onlyfans
As reported in a study by the University of Salamanca , the DSM-V ( Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ) and the APA already recognize pornography addiction as a type of behavioral addiction . This condition is increasingly frequent and reinforced by “online” content, such as the Onlyfans platform itself.
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This space is fuel for users’ sexual fantasies and a way to find stimulation they can’t find in their real life . Over time, such a situation has consequences. Now, let’s see what the indicators of porn addiction are:
- Social isolation.
- Collect material on this issue.
- Irritability when these contents are not seen.
- Spend a great deal of money on these items.
- Prefer masturbation through content rather than actual physical encounters.
- Dedicate a large part of the time to consuming these contents,to the point of neglecting work and social life.
- Progressive mental exhaustion: symptoms of anxiety and depression appear and the risk of falling into addictions such as alcohol increases.
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The use of Onlyfans and the limits to take care of mental health
While it is true that more analysis and studies are needed to understand the reach of Onlyfans in terms of mental health, one thing is clear. Technology does nothing but enhance a very ancient social reality which, in one way or another, always brings suffering in favor of great economic gains .
Preventing the unintended consequences of these types of platforms requires two things. The first is that anyone who uses them has a high level of awareness, respect, empathy and understanding of their motivations. The second is that there are intrapersonal limits where no one gets hurt and everyone gets what they want.
