Is OnlyFans Safe?

A site that allows anyone to sell access to their exclusive pics and videos, OnlyFans took the internet by storm when it launched in 2016. It’s now a multibillion-dollar business, with over 170 million registered users worldwide.

But there’s one question that still gets asked time and time again: is OnlyFans safe?

If you’re thinking of joining OnlyFans to make money, it’s important to understand what you’re getting into first.

From privacy issues to content leaks, public stigma to policy change scandals, today we’re going to talk about the risks of using the site. So you can know if it’s right for you – and how to keep yourself safe.

What is OnlyFans?

OnlyFans is often described as a “premium social network”.

That’s because on ordinary social networks – like TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, etc. – anyone can see what you post for free. But on OnlyFans, it’s different: only fans willing to pay a monthly subscription fee can access, like, and comment on your photos and videos.

As well as subscriptions, content creators on OnlyFans can also earn by selling pay-per-view messages to fans. And they can collect tips of up to $100 at a time.

It doesn’t cost anything to set up an OnlyFans account. But the site makes its money by taking a 20% share of anything creators earn.

OnlyFans pitches itself as perfect for lifestyle influencers, artists, fitness pros, and celebs wanting to monetise their content and expertise. But because of its historically relaxed rules around adult content, the platform is mainly used by sex workers, selling lewd pics and videos.

Today, the OnlyFans name is synonymous with internet pornography. And many feel there’s a certain stigma attached to being an OnlyFans creator, no matter what kind of content you’re posting.

OnlyFans Privacy & Content Security Risks

Because of this stigma surrounding OnlyFans (and personal safety concerns), a lot of creators want to know how to protect their identity and content when using the site.

Can you stay anonymous on OnlyFans?

If you create an OnlyFans account, it is possible to hide your real name from other users – by using a stage name for instance. But there’s always a chance that someone you know will stumble across your profile and recognise you.

You can minimize this risk by making your OnlyFans account ‘private’. That way, only fans you approve of can follow your account. Though, obviously, this means you’re less likely to get discovered by new fans. So you might not earn as much from subscriptions and tips.

What’s more, while you can take steps to hide your real identity from other users, you can’t hide it from OnlyFans. All new creators must submit their real name, date or birth, and photo ID for verification, as required by law.

However, OnlyFans assures creators that this information is handled in the strictest confidence.

How do you protect your content on OnlyFans?

Unfortunately, there’s no way to guarantee that, when you put your content out there on any site like OnlyFans, no one’s going to steal it.

In fact, back in early 2020, it was reported that 1.6TB worth of OnlyFans creators’ premium videos and photos had been stolen and leaked online.

OnlyFans denied its systems had been hacked (though creators remain skeptical to this day). Instead, it blamed the leak on a group of customers, who were taking content from accounts they subscribed to and redistributing it online for free.

There are things you can do to avoid having your content stolen though. For instance, you can:

Add watermarks to your content before posting it

Keep your account passwords private and hard to guess

Block or report suspicious subscribers/followers

The OnlyFans Policy Change Scandal

As we said earlier, sex workers popularised OnlyFans. And they make up the majority of the site’s creator community.

So it was all the more shocking when, in August 2021, OnlyFans announced a policy change that would prohibit sexually explicit content on the site from October 1.

While OnlyFans blamed the ban on growing pressure from its banks and payment partners, the announcement didn’t go down well. OnlyFans was accused of “turning its back” on the sex workers that had helped the site build its multibillion-dollar fortune.

So less than a week later, in response to the growing backlash, OnlyFans performed a sharp U-turn.

"We have secured assurances necessary to support our diverse creator community and have suspended the planned October 1 policy change," OnlyFans announced on its Twitter page. “Thank you to everyone for making your voices heard.”

But the damage had already been done.

Sex workers have lost trust in the site. Most no longer feel safe relying on OnlyFans to make a living, with the policy change only “suspended” (not canceled entirely).

Are there safer alternatives to OnlyFans?

Because of the fears around when the adult content ban will come into effect on OnlyFans, many creators are seeking alternative sites.

Popular choices include:

SoSpoilt.com

SoSpoilt might have only launched in 2020. But created by a company with over 20 years’ tech experience, it’s seen as one of the most reliable alternatives to OnlyFans.

The site offers creators all the same earning tools as OnlyFans – like subscriptions, messages, and tips. Plus, there’s some nice extra features. For instance, you can charge fans for one-off live video or voice chats, without having to share your personal information.

Payments are just as safe and secure, too. But SoSpoilt takes a lower cut of your earnings than OnlyFans. So you keep 85% of all subscription revenue.

Fansly

This time last year, Fansly was relatively unknown. But the site, which has a very similar look and feel to OnlyFans, has boomed in popularity in recent months (particularly with adult content creators).

Fansly says it's committed to providing a safe and secure place for creators to earn. And while many features are still under development, it does offer a two-step authentication system, which means it's harder for anyone to hack into creators’ accounts.

In terms of features, it offers creators pretty much everything OnlyFans does. And it works with a similar business model, taking a 20% cut of whatever creators earn from subscriptions and tips.

Our Verdict

When you put yourself and your content out there on any site like OnlyFans, there are risks. But when that site becomes your sole source of income, the stakes get much higher.

So if you want to stay safe and protect your livelihood, we recommend not depending on OnlyFans entirely to make money. (This is particularly true if you’re an adult content creator, as it’s only a matter of time before OnlyFans bans sexually explicit material.)

Instead, try other OnlyFans alternatives, like SoSpoilt or Fansly. Smart creators often use several sites at once, to spread their risk and not grow too dependent on one platform for income.