With more people than ever selling adult content on the social media platform, we speak to one woman in her 60s who has a legion of online subscribers
You’ve probably heard of it, but how much do you really know about OnlyFans? The online platform has attracted a lot of attention in recent years, largely for its success with those wanting to sell adult content in order to earn some extra cash.
Launched in 2016, it began attracting ordinary people and celebrities alike, mostly women, who were keen to showcase their talents in exchange for money from online ‘fans’. In a nutshell, content creators upload images and videos, and fans pay to subscribe to the profiles they enjoy.
During the pandemic, when social lives were restricted to laptops, phones and tablets, OnlyFans soared in popularity, and it now attracts over 210 million users globally. However, not everyone has success on the site and many claim it can take years and a lot of work and effort to build up a lucrative profile.
There can be a dark side too, with fans messaging and demanding things that content creators might not be comfortable with. And once content is uploaded, it can remain on the internet forever.
However, as each content creator is completely in control of what they post, and are able to charge what they want for both monthly subscriptions and additional personalised content, it has become a hugely popular source of income for many, including celebrities such as Kerry Katona, who allegedly made £170,000 in her first month on the site. And adult content isn’t the only moneymaker. Many content creators claim to make thousands sharing fitness, beauty and fashion advice on the site too. So is it any wonder that more over-50s are getting involved?
Here, a woman tells us why she’s loving her lucrative sideline.
‘IT’S LIKE HAVING MY OWN PERSONAL CABARET SHOW’
Lesley Banks, 63, lives in Berkshire with her boyfriend Andrew, 57.
It was last summer when I first heard about OnlyFans. I was at a yoga retreat in the New Forest with my daughter Naomi, then 28, and we were all going round the room introducing ourselves. We heard from the usual professions – doctors, teachers, business people – and then, finally, a lady in her 20s said she produced adult content on OnlyFans. When she explained she did sexual content, the raised eyebrows and slightly awkward silences commenced. Only when I got chatting to her properly, I found the whole thing fascinating. She told me that people were making thousands from
