Breaking the Internet

By Isabella Liss
Photographs provided by “Kate”

Kim Kardashian famously popularised the phrase “breaking the internet” with her sexy Paper Magazine photoshoot. But what does this mean for ordinary women profiting from their bodies online? An OnlyFans user shares her story; what does it take to “break the internet” and garner an audience?

Kate* (21) has been participating in online sex work for the last four years. She is a graphic designer through apprenticeship, and paid concept designer. Currently studying towards a BA in history and psychology, Kate began creating adult content at 18 for enjoyment, unaware that it could be profitable. She discovered OnlyFans two years ago, which made accessing her funds and fanbase uncomplicated. This platform can be thought of as “an Instagram for adult content”. Media shared is usually “pornographic”, but this is not imperative. Many influencers and fitness models also use it to gain traction on social media, sharing revealing or aesthetically crafted portraits. Subscribers are charged monthly in order to view content (anywhere between $3 and $25 per month, depending on the creator’s popularity). Income from OnlyFans has allowed Kate to pay her rent, living expenses, buy a car, and afford university fees (with the help of an academic bursary acquired through hard work). 

* Name has been changed to protect identity.

“I’m the first in my family to go to university, and I paid for it all myself,” Kate smiles. She’s busy with her studies, and doesn’t post much original content anymore. Instead, Kate now receives referral fees from women she’s “taught” to webcam. She’s taken advantage of this feature offered by OnlyFans, coaching three American women who now pay her a percentage of their earnings. This allows Kate to maximise on referral fees, because the women are earning US dollars as opposed to rands. One of them has become particularly successful on the platform, and Kate receives hefty compensation. But it’s not all about high earnings. Kate also considers these “students” her allies. “I love teaching, and being that kind of person for young women.”

It quickly becomes apparent that “that kind of person” is savvy, independent, and brazen about her experiences. She’s worked in a changing online sex work industry, and now finds herself using OnlyFans for a number of reasons. She began selling adult content through many different platforms, as well as moderating other people’s pornographic content on Reddit. Kate believes OnlyFans provides everything content producers seek on one platform, unlike earlier sites. She recalls difficulties in finding platforms she could use internationally. Like many other adult content creators at the time, Kate would Dropbox nudes to her clients, and receive payment through Paypal. This was always a risk because Paypal doesn’t allow adult content, and vengeful or ignorant clients could easily alert authorities or result in suspended income. It was a further struggle to transfer the money into a South African bank account. Kate began having her own contracts and disclaimers written up for clients to sign — terms and conditions to protect her. “The amount of work that went into the stuff before OnlyFans came along . . .” Kate ponders.

Then came the arbitrarily drawn lines between adult content and artistic expression. This affected content creators like Kate, who still sold artistic pieces. Many online sex workers used Patreon to distribute their work, but this became difficult when new terms and conditions were introduced. Nude art was permitted, but anything considered provocative was not. How does one strictly define a piece of this nature? As a result, experimental art ceased for creatives like Kate. Although she admits, “The content I’m making these days leans more towards pornographic than artistic. I still believe it to be my art form, but a lot less.” OnlyFans doesn’t draw any creative boundaries. Content creators can be as “provocative” and explicit, or as “mild” as they please.

OnlyFans also tries to provide protection for clientele, and it dissuades underage creators. Other sex work platforms made this a complicated process. Now one need only provide an ID, and a picture of one’s face to verify identity. Third-party verification is then conducted, so the creator’s identity is not shared on the site, and underage/fake identities are prohibited. However, this process also made many creators nervous in the beginning. “I was so worried because this site had no reputation,” Kate reflects. “I was really really worried about their privacy breaches. I messaged them, I emailed them under anonymous accounts.” Kate knows the dangers of privacy breaches. She is emphatic: “If something is on the internet it’s never coming down. So never ever ever — no matter what you do, no matter who it is — post your face. Cause it will never come down.”

OnlyFans changed the game for sex workers, but it hasn’t been without its drawbacks and controversies.There were accusations of a data breach in February 2020, when users found their images and videos being distributed outside of the platform. OnlyFans doesn’t allow screenshots or screen recordings, and denied allegations. However, this still resulted in loss of income for hundreds of women, whose content was being shared without payment. “I thought [their policies] were great, and then I experienced my content being stolen. No one gave a fuck,” says Kate. Hackers sometimes collect data from sites selling adult content, in order to reshare it with monetised advertisements. This makes them a profit, denying the content creators income and security.

Another controversy making headlines is that of celebrities using the platform. They, too, have unlimited access, often drawing business away from content creators with smaller followings. Popular celebrity profiles include Cardi B, Tyga, Black Chyna, and Austin Mahone. Most recently, actress Bella Thorne made headlines for joining OnlyFans in an effort to “fully control” her public image after leaked nudes. Her $1 million debut was met with harsh criticism from sex workers, prompting debates about how celebrities should be “allowed” to reclaim their sexuality.

These things haven’t deterred subscribers or creators. With over 7 million users and a growth rate of over 304% annually, OnlyFans continues to grow rapidly. The average user is estimated to make $250 per month, while top content creators break $5 million. Earnings are dependent on quality of content, time spent engaging with fans, and success on other social media platforms. (Recognised public figures with large Instagram followings, for example, tend to draw more fans on this intimate platform.) OnlyFans takes a cut of 20% from creator’s revenues. If a creator chooses to list a referral link in their profile (as young girls have done with Kate, who assisted in “training” them for online work), 5% of the creator’s first year of income is paid to the person who trained them. This allows users like Kate to continue earning an income despite low engagement with fans. Those that train successfully are paid successfully. Their business model has been critiqued for it’s unfairness, and “greedy” nature by economic strategists and investigative journalists alike. Yet content creators still flock to the site for its ease of use, and ability to receive their income quickly and hassle-free.

But what has made OnlyFans the first adult content social media platform to truly succeed? It’s more than accessibility. It makes porn personal. “When I’m having a good day, feeling good about myself, I talk to my fans,” Kate says. “One of them really wanted to read my history essay,” she laughs. This is standard for most content creators on the site, because, Kate says, “People love knowing you have depth.” It’s as if subscribers have their own personal porn star in their pockets. As with Instagram and Whatsapp, creators can personally message their subscribers, and set “stories” or status updates. This allows women like Kate to form personal relationships with them. She’s found multiple “sugar daddies” this way, some of the relationships lasting years. To an outsider, it might seem creepy, but Kate insists it’s about networking, and building relationships with clients for business opportunities. She’s getting paid generously for the trouble she invests. Often, long-time clients pay without requesting sexual images in return. Her company is desirable. “People are so lonely,” Kate admits. A quick-fix for her overworked men with money is not just someone who can relieve them sexually in real time, but someone who provides companionship too. Far-removed from their reality and located across the world, but simultaneously as intimate as they desire. At the touch of a button, subscribers receive personalised content straight to their phones.

Kate also thinks users have gravitated towards OnlyFans because amateur porn is more authentic. “You can relate to it,” she says of popular content. Kate believes it’s less theatrical — less screaming women in compromising positions and more young people directing their own content in simple bedrooms. There are no bells and whistles.

By March 2020 (just a few months into the pandemic), OnlyFans had already reported a 75% increase in total user signups. High volumes of new users remain steady due to international lockdowns and job losses. South African OnlyFans star Abby Zues claims she’s seen a marked increase in quality of content posted by other South Africans. She believes this is due to an influx of sex workers who were previously escorts, or seeing clients from home. Suddenly, these workers had to make ends meet, and brought a new standard of “professionalism” to OnlyFans. As a result, content creation is becoming competitive. More dedicated creators draw dedicated followers. Particular surges in subscriptions took place in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, and Gauteng.

But it’s not all fun and games, and men with money. Kate must face the uncomfortable knowledge that a portion of her customer base fetishises her small breasts and stature because she “appears underage”. Subscribers have often left comments on her images surrounding this. “I do not condone that sort of thing,” she makes clear. Unfortunately, there’s no sure way to tell why subscribers are attracted to her, and no way to prevent these inappropriate remarks besides blocking commenters on a case-by-case basis. Then there’s the undue criticism Kate receives online. She says she’s far more aware of gender-based violence and patriarchal discourse with exposure to negative comments about her body. It’s one of the drawbacks of crafting a “public persona”. The work becomes dreary when everyone is demanding of you, and relentlessly finding fault with your presentation. This sometimes leaves Kate feeling sex work can no longer be her passion. She’s started a separate OnlyFans account to mitigate this feeling, where she posts “just for fun” instead of validation or money. Images are less filtered, and her body presented more naturally. This is ironically where she receives the most hate mail, and it’s taking its toll. “Everyone feels so excited when they start doing something like this. And they love it, and they are passionate, and it’s amazing. And then two to three years later you’re like, ‘I have to have the sex drive now to get up, get naked when it’s cold, find good lighting and set everything up. Make sure that my vagina looks amazing because the criticism is hectic’”. It can all become a burden. “Lots of money if you do it right. But sometimes I feel like you’re sacrificing a bit of your soul.”

In addition to these difficulties, Kate has had to grapple with the unceremonious revelation of her identity to her family. She sometimes draws on her graphic design skills in creating content. A male family friend who was browsing OnlyFans recognised her distinctive style of illustration, and alerted her parents by sending them her naked photographs. Kate felt violated. It resulted in a family feud in which she made the decision to leave home. Her parents still refuse to reveal who this person was, which continues to disturb Kate. A stranger who knows her family intimately enough to be familiar with Kate’s art, and invasive enough to browse through her nudes online.

Kate decided to continue with online sex work after leaving home. She was not yet aware she would be granted a bursary, and was concerned about funding her education. “I really didn’t believe what I was doing was wrong,” Kate says. “I don’t know how they could ask me to stop when this was the only way I could pay for my future.” It was a difficult time, but Kate believes her parents now respect her for being firm, and standing her ground. These days she can even crack a joke about it with her mother. Her father is still coming to terms with the situation.

Kate’s experiences in sex work and personal relationships have led her to think critically about sexual fantasy and fetish, as well as her own career trajectory. After completing her studies in psychology, she wishes to research pedophilia and what motivates it. She’s also interested in Sexology, and hopes to assist couples through sex and love counselling. “I want women to feel empowered,” she says of her desire to provide relationship coaching. “Empowered” is a word she uses often. OnlyFans has done more than provide cash and clarity; it’s given Kate a stability she never had. Being able to finance a move away from home has resulted in liberation and improved relationships for the whole family. Kate’s father abused drugs and alcohol at home. It was “a wake-up call” to him when she left. “It’s amazing how much he has changed from me leaving. Not only did I empower myself and take myself out of a difficult situation, I empowered my family to have the space to realise how fucked up they were.” She has a happier family, better communication with her father, and the beginnings of a hefty savings account. She’s saved R300 000 after two years of working through OnlyFans, and is able to “spend fucktons” regularly. “I feel so in-control, so empowered,” Kate reiterates.

She regularly debunks myths and assumptions people project onto her, from accusations of severe mental health issues to abusive relationships and intense kinks. “As if it’s not something a sane women would do,” Kate muses. “I’m a sex worker and I’m proud of that. But it took a while to get there.” Online sex work can be a gruelling job, and anyone who enters into the industry is as deserving of support as any other worker. The backlash and ostracisation Kate has faced has made her even more determined to speak out, and be controversial. “If you don’t have people to challenge your thoughts, you’re never going to open your mind,” she says diplomatically. “The more you talk about this, people are going to open their minds. People are a lot more open when you explain things.”