OnlyFans became one of the most popular social media platforms among users during the 2020 lockdown. In 2024, the number of registered users is more than 200,000 million, 2.1 million of which are creators. Although the official policy of the service is that the underaged are not allowed to register with OnlyFans and share their content there, teenagers still find ways to join the platform and start posting there. Fame and money (according to the reports, top creators make more than $1 million per year) are very attractive to them.
With all the controversial headlines and statistics, one of the most asked questions among parents regarding the platform is: What is OnlyFans used for? But first, what is OnlyFans? Is OnlyFans safe? Let’s find out if it is dangerous for your child and should you worry if you find out that they are registered with OnlyFans.
What Is OnlyFans?
What is OnlyFans app? It is a subscription-based social media platform that allows creators to share exclusive content with their fans for a fee. A couple of years ago, a story about a teacher who registered with the platform and was teaching math there became very popular. He used OnlyFans to make people interested in math and to encourage them to enter the university. Needless to say, his strategy worked perfectly, otherwise, this story would not have been so loud.
Generally, there is nothing weird about such cases, as OnlyFans was originally created as a platform where people with different talents and abilities could monetize their content. Fitness coaches, artists, musicians, and writers were supposed to (and still can) register and promote their work there.
However, everything did not go as it was intended to, and although you can find other types of art on OnlyFans, it became famous for sexually explicit content. People of all ages share erotic and pornographic materials on the website, monetizing their bodies and sex. According to the official data from WorldMetrics, OnlyFans creators have collectively earned more than 2 billion dollars.
OnlyFans has been criticized for not doing enough to prevent child sexual abuse material from circulating on the OnlyFans website. In October 2021, the company announced it would no longer allow sexually explicit material but reversed its decision six days later due to backlash. As for 2024, the company constantly works on improving its safety protocols and KYC strategies to ensure that only approved content gets published on the website.
What Is OnlyFans Used For, and How Does It Work?
In a broader sense, the major purpose of OnlyFans is not just to connect content creators to their followers; it is also a market front. OnlyFans users are divided into two categories: creators and viewers.
If you are a creator, here is what you can do on the platform:
- create an account;
- set up subscription plans;
- set up the “per view” price for your content;
- post any content, including sexual (but not only), following the platform’s rules;
- launch live streams and communicate with your subscribers and visitors.
If you came to the platform to enjoy nude bodies or watch some non-erotics-related content, you can:
- purchase subscriptions for the channels you like;
- pay for viewing content;
- communicate with creators on their live streams or via comments;
- leave tips for your favorite creators;
- send DMs (only available for the most expensive plans).
Whether you like it or not, OnlyFans takes a 20% cut of the creator’s earnings. This is how all business works. The OnlyFans web is designed to allow creators to withdraw their earnings once a month. On the other hand, as an average user, you may have several reasons to join the platform.
- Personal connection: many people feel lonely or do not get enough attention from their loved ones in real life. OnlyFans allows them to establish a connection with creators and get the illusion that there is an idealized person on the internet who cares about them and shares their content and thoughts with them.
- Original content: there are a lot of creators cooperating with OnlyFans in different niches. Their content is original and focuses on specific areas, making it much more valuable than the overall-about-everything content that can be found on the first pages of Google search.
- Feeling important: users can text their favorite creators on OnlyFans, ask them questions, or discuss different things. Such a connection with someone famous on the internet makes ordinary people feel special and important.
Who Can Use OnlyFans?
Influencers in industries like fitness, music, and cooking also use the platform to monetize their content and engage with their fans. However, it comes with some limitations. OnlyFans is available only to users over the age of 18. These users must agree with the platform’s terms of service. So, those wonder is OnlyFans for kids can forget about this as the answer is: “No!”
Is OnlyFans Safe?
Is OnlyFans safe to use? It is important to mention that OnlyFans danger is highly defined by who uses the platform. Like on other platforms, online privacy should be a top priority. Over the years, users have fallen prey to promoter scams, copyright infringement, identity theft, and stalking. So, is OnlyFans safe? It only depends on people.
Another sensitive point is that children, especially teenagers, are often attracted to the platform which, as they think, offers easy money and glory. Many of them get upset and leave the platform a couple of months later when they face the cruel world of business and competition, but some keep trying for years, getting the opposite effect: no money and low self-esteem. Although OnlyFans works on its KYC protocol non-stop, trying to block all the tricks teenagers use to register there, the problems haven’t been solved completely yet.
OnlyFans Age Requirement
The official OnlyFans age requirement is 18+, meaning both clients and creators must be at least at this age to join the platform and start producing or consuming the content. People are usually requested to provide proof of their identity with a photo at the registration stage to ensure they can legally join the platform.
Sexual Content on OnlyFans
What is OnlyFans actually used for? Well, it is not a big secret. OnlyFans has gained popularity due to its allowance of adult content, particularly sexual content. This has made it a platform of choice for content creators in the adult entertainment industry and individuals looking to monetize their explicit content.
While OnlyFans is not solely focused on sexual content, it remains one of its most prominent and lucrative categories. This leads to many problems, such as sexual abuse, underage pornography (it is worth mentioning that the company keeps working on solving this issue), and sometimes even human trafficking.
No Built-In Parental Controls
OnlyFans does not have built-in parental controls, which has caused many parents concern and raised the question, “Is OnlyFans safe to use?” Due to this, it is difficult to restrict access to explicit content on the platform. Of course, it is paid, but there are lots of ways to overcome this problem, starting from asking someone to pay for it and finishing with sharing an account with an older friend. So, what can be done in this case?
Installing a phone tracker, like uMobix, on your child’s device is actually a smart solution. With its help, parents can notice that their kid uses OnlyFans and apply measures. It provides various features and reports, such as browser history monitoring, screen snaps, the list of apps installed on the phone, how often they are used, etc. It allows for remote control, blocking apps and websites, and setting screen time limits. The app is anonymous and works in a hidden mode, so there are no ways such monitoring gets noticed.
Digital Harassment
Digital harassment is one of the challenges some OnlyFans creators have to deal with. The most troubling thing is that it has no particular pattern or form. It might come in the form of messages and comments to outright threats and blackmail.
Even though OnlyFans web allows you to report content or file a complaint, the trauma of the incident might have a lasting effect on the harassed user.
No Regulation
Unlike traditional social media platforms or adult content sites, OnlyFans is not subject to the same level of oversight. This means there is a risk of illegal activity going unnoticed or unpunished, such as sending nudes, celebrity porn, etc.
Additionally, there is no guarantee that content creators are who they say they are or that they are following any ethical standards.
What Content Will You Find on OnlyFans?
We simply can’t ignore the fact that OnlyFans is primarily known for its adult content. However, there is actually a wide variety of other content available on the platform. Many creators use OnlyFans to share their skills and expertise with their fans:
- artists and musicians share their work there;
- educators offer courses and workshops;
- some creators use OnlyFans to share more personal insights into their lives, providing a behind-the-scenes look at their daily routines or sharing their thoughts on current events.
Generally, OnlyFans can also offer a diverse range of content that can be both entertaining and informative.
How to Monitor Your Kid’s OnlyFans Activity with uMobix?
Kids are continuing to find new ways to use platforms like OnlyFans without a parent knowing about such activities. This has made proper parenting a more expensive and difficult task. Monitoring your kid’s activity on OnlyFans can be a challenging task. However, parental control apps like uMobix can help you keep track of their activity on the platform.
A comprehensive parental control app offers various features to help you monitor your kid’s device activity. A good parental control application also allows you to monitor their social media activity and restrict unwanted materials. uMobix has a special feature called site blocking, which allows parents to ban certain web resources that they find unwanted for their children.
To use this parental control app, you need to:
- Simply install the app on your child’s device.
- Create an account and log in to the app.
- Set up the app and configure the settings to suit your preferences.
- Monitor your child’s OnlyFans activity from your remote dashboard.
The best part about these apps is that they don’t require you to provide the kid’s personal OnlyFans info. As a parent, you will track all the cell phone activity and will be able to:
- review the browser history and check the pages your child visits;
- block the sites you do not want your child to visit;
- set limits for screentime;
- follow the conversations on social media.
This way, you get maximum control of your child’s online activity, and you will know if they join OnlyFans and what they do there. Who knows, maybe they just watch math lessons. The app also offers other features like GPS tracking, call and message monitoring, and screen time management.
OnlyFans for Kids: 3 Extra Tips for Parents to Keep Kids Safe
Help your children make informed decisions and develop healthy digital habits by implementing some effective strategies. Keep OnlyFans for kids safe with these extra tips: regular conversations about online safety, open talk about OnlyFans risks, and scheduled screen time usage.
Talk to Your Children Regularly
As a parent, having regular conversations with your kids about online safety is important, including the potential risks associated with using social media platforms like OnlyFans. This can be done by creating an open and non-judgmental environment where your children can feel comfortable discussing their experiences and concerns.
Have an Open Talk About “Is OnlyFans Safe to Use or Not”
You should discuss the importance of keeping personal information private and not sharing explicit content with others. Teach them about OnlyFans meaning and low protective standards. You should also encourage your children to come to you if they ever feel uncomfortable or threatened while using the platform. Make them think is OnlyFans safe instead of permanently being sure of this.
Schedule Screen Time Usage
It’s important to set limits on how much time your child spends on the platform and enforce these limits. By setting clear boundaries, you can help your child develop healthy digital habits and avoid excessive exposure to explicit content. This can be achieved by using an online parental lock or a reliable phone tracker.
Conclusion
Maybe, one day, OnlyFans will become an only educative and artistic resource without a questionable reputation, but as for now, it is mainly known for sexually explicit content. Such content may influence kids’ minds and development, leading to problems in sexual and personal life in the future. That is why it is important to monitor their online activity and either block OnlyFans or talk about it with your kids if you notice them joining the platform. In both cases, you need to be informed about the latter, and it is where uMobix can become your best helper: it allows you to track the children’s online activity secretly and anonymously. Take care of your children’s mental health with it!