Only fans
A guide for families with key information about ‘Only fans’, including the age rating, key terminology, risks and instructions for enabling parental controls and safety settings.
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How OnlyFans works
OnlyFans is a subscription-based social media app used to share pictures, videos and live streams.
OnlyFans is available for mobile users through the OnlyFans website. OnlyFans cannot be found on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
Creators can charge their ‘fans’ a monthly fee to follow their account and view their exclusive content. However not all creators charge a fee for their content. OnlyFans charges a fee for any content sold via the platform.
OnlyFans is well known for hosting adult content.
Content creators on OnlyFans include:
- YouTubers
- social media influencers
- fitness trainers
- musicians
- chefs
- comedians
- athletes
- models
Minimum age requirements
Users must be 18 to use OnlyFans. Users must take a selfie to verify their age. If they look younger than 18, they must submit valid ID to prove they are an adult. The age verification process for creators is more intense than for users.
However, users can still create an account and access the site without verifying their age. They will be unable to access any full content, but they will be exposed to inappropriate advertisements for adult content.
Features
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Those who post and share content for their subscribers.
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Also known as ‘Fans’. These are users who subscribe and pay to view someone else’s content.
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Work completed via private message for a private fee.
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A heart-shaped button below each post that allows users to show their appreciation for the photo or video.
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This means ‘Not safe for work’ so users know which content should be viewed in private.
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A feature that allows creators to design and sell their own merchandise through their profiles. These products may have inappropriate messaging on them, such as sexual imagery or sexual messages.
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OnlyFans Creators have the choice to release their content as PPV through private messages with OnlyFans viewers. It allows viewers to pay only for the type of content they want to see.
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Stands for ‘OnlyFans TV’ where OnlyFans creators publish short and long form videos, including new shows by reality TV personalities, that users can subscribe to. Although it is branded as a ‘safe-for-work’ streaming platform, it is recommended that you check the content of the OFTV shows your child may access on the platform to ensure they are suitable.
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These are often hired people or agencies who manage inboxes and chats for a creator. The aim is often to get users to send the creator more money.
Managing risks
Inappropriate content
OnlyFans has an adult age rating and is unregulated. There is a high risk of viewing inappropriate materials and mature content. A large proportion of the content on OnlyFans is sexual. Creators often use the hashtag ‘NSFW’ (not safe for work) to let their subscribers know to view their posts in private. Creators also can post uncensored, X-rated pictures and videos as well as host live streams where followers can engage with creators in real-time.
Contact with other users
The unregulated nature of OnlyFans presents a contact risk for younger users, as they will be able to interact with users of all ages.
The notion of making money quickly and easily on OnlyFans can be appealing and it is frequently talked about on other platforms. Content creators on OnlyFans should be aware of the risk of controlling behaviours by their subscribers. Some subscribers offer large sums of money for intimate images. They then use them to blackmail the creator for further, sometimes more extreme, images.
Overspending
There are many ways that creators can charge users for their content. These include:
- asking for tips
- pay-per-view (PPV) content
- selling messages
Steps to protect your child
OnlyFans is not suitable for under 18s. If you discover your child is using OnlyFans, these actions can help keep them safe.
Set filters and blocks on broadband
In the settings of your broadband provider, turn on controls to prevent your child from accessing adult content. You can also block specific websites or websites in certain content categories,. This will allow you to block OnlyFans without impacting other sites.
Have open conversations
Have a conversation with your child about OnlyFans, explaining why they shouldn’t use the platform, rather than just telling them not to. This can include discussing online reputation, grooming, blackmail and sexual predators.
If your child tells you that they were only using the platform to access content from comedians or musical artists they like, suggest that they use other platforms .
Explore monitoring apps
Monitoring apps can give you an insight into what your child is doing online. You can block websites and receive alerts if your child tries to access sites like OnlyFans. Once you have been ‘alerted’ to them accessing such sites you can take action and ask them why they are accessing these sites.