The article "How OnlyFans turned into a global empire bent on redefining porn" from Reuters, authored by Andrew R.C. Marshall and colleagues, details the evolution of OnlyFans from a non-pornographic platform to a major player in the adult entertainment industry. It highlights the company's significant growth, boasting $1.3 billion in revenue and over 300 million users. OnlyFans has effectively integrated sex work with the creator economy, expanding into various content areas like comedy and music while maintaining a strong base in adult content.
The platform is depicted as secretive, with few employees and operations that include content moderation based in Ukraine. Its owner, Leonid Radvinsky, remains elusive, rarely appearing in public or associated directly with the company in promotional materials. The company's CEO, Keily Blair, presents OnlyFans as an empowering platform for creators, especially women, and emphasizes its commitment to ethical standards in pornographic content.
The piece also touches on challenges and controversies surrounding OnlyFans, including issues with content moderation and the potential for abuse on the platform. Despite its efforts to diversify its content and sanitize its image, OnlyFans remains heavily reliant on adult content, facing scrutiny from financial institutions and other stakeholders regarding the nature of its business and the content it hosts.