The OnlyFans subscription social networking platform fails to prevent underage users from selling and posting sexually explicit material, a BBC study has revealed.
People under the age of 18 have used fake IDs to set up accounts on the page that allow users to sell provocative or even nude photos of themselves. In fact, according to British police, a 14-year-old used her grandmother’s passport.
A senior British police official on child protection says children are being “exploited” on the platform.
OnlyFans, for its part, says age identification systems go beyond regulatory requirements. The platform has over one million “creators” who share videos, photos and messages directly with subscribers for an amount they pay monthly.
In exchange for hosting the material, OnlyFans receives 20% of all payments. There is a variety of content on the site, but it is mainly known for pornography and users are required to be over 18 years old.
The OnlyFans was one of the big winners during the pandemic, as it skyrocketed in popularity due to the fact that people all over the world were locked in their homes. The platform has grown almost 10 times since 2019 and now has more than 120 million users.
Some have become millionaires from their accounts, but mainly has been a second source of revenue during the pandemic.
Videos with minors that cause concern
The BBC has investigated concerns that people under 18 are selling sexually explicit videos on the platform, despite the fact that this is illegal.
The investigation found that A 17-year-old from a suburb in the south east of England has sold her videos, which showed her masturbating and playing with sex toys. The same time, a person under 18 participated in sexually explicit videos hosted on an adult account, violating the terms.
The BBC researchers managed to create an account for a minor creator, using the identity of a 26-year-old person, in order to show how one can “cheat” the process of identifying the page.
OnlyFans noted that it has closed these accounts. However, the BBC reports a number of serious incidents, citing sources:
- Schools have anonymous reports of students using the platform, including a 16-year-old who bragged to her counselor about the large sum she made.
- Minor creators and users include victims of previous sexual abuse and people with mental health problems and suicidal thoughts.
- The British police force says that children have complained about their pictures being posted without their consent on the website and a 17-year-old complained that she was being blackmailed.
- Missing children appear in videos on OnlyFans.
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