Adult subscription site OnlyFans announces sexually explicit content will be banned in weeks

OnlyFans will ban sexually explicit content from October as part of its move away from its reputation as a hotspot for sex workers.

Adult content subscription service OnlyFans has announced it will be banning creators from sharing sexually explicit material in the coming weeks.

The website swelled in popularity during the global coronavirus pandemic, with musicians and artists as well as sex workers taking to the platform to make mega bucks.

While utilised by a broad range of industries, the site has earned its reputation as the hot spot for influencers and sex workers to post sexually explicit photos and videos.

In a shock announcement this week however, OnlyFans revealed it would no longer allow such material to be shared from October, Bloomberg reported.

OnlyFans will ban sexually explicit content from October. Picture: Gabby Jones/Bloomberg via Getty Images

“In order to ensure the long-term sustainability of our platform, and continue to host an inclusive community of creators and fans, we must evolve our content guidelines,” OnlyFans said.

The changes were provoked by pressure from payment providers and banking partners, according to the company.

It said the diversion away from sexual content would aid in its ability to raise more than $1 billion from outside investors.

While the new rules will likely make it difficult for sex workers to sell their usual sexually explicit content, they will still allow for the sharing of nude photos and videos.

The content will need to comply with the company’s new policies, which it has yet to release details on.

It’s understood the website will shift more towards hosting the content of chefs, fitness instructors and musicians, more so than that of sex workers.

More than 130 million people globally use the website, including mainstream celebrities Cardi B, Tyga and, infamously, Bella Thorne.

When Thorne joined the app in August last year, she broke a record by earning $US1.39 million ($A1.9 million) on her first day on the platform.

However, she was criticised shortly after by sex workers on the app, which later made pricing changes that financially impacted its content creators.

OnlyFans capped fan tips at $US100 ($A132) and pay-per-view post charges at $US50 ($A66).

In a statement to Mashable, an OnlyFans representative said that transaction limits “are not based on any one user,” like Thorne.

“Transaction limits are set to help prevent overspending and to allow our users to continue to use the site safely,” the statement read.

“We value all of the feedback received since this change was implemented and we will continue to review these limits.”