How Adult Creators Evolved After the 2020 OnlyFans Boom
The often surprising ways adult entertainers have thrived post-pandemic
The year 2020 was a watershed moment for many industries, including adult entertainment. As the world grappled with isolation amid the coronavirus pandemic, audiences flocked to digital platforms for connection and escapism. Industry creators and consumers alike had to adapt to the new normal. However, as restrictions eased and society began to reopen, the challenge became maintaining the momentum generated during that unprecedented period.
An adult-friendly option
OnlyFans officially launched in 2016 but skyrocketed in popularity in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Creators on the platform experienced huge growth as users grew due to OnlyFans being friendly to adult performers. Adult creator, Bea York has utilized multiple social media platforms to create a large following that caters to those looking to fulfill their fantasies. She first joined OnlyFans in 2019 after Patreon moved away from adult content.
“I joined in September of 2019. So it was just starting to become a thing, and people are just starting to talk about it, just as another option, because I think Patreon had made the move away from adult content. And that was just another option out of several other platforms, where it was adult-friendly. So it was just like of the list of options, it was one of the ones that my peers and I selected to try out. And then of course, like six months, a year later blew up,” York said.
York’s foray into adult content began with underwear sales on Reddit. The platform proved a solid springboard for her burgeoning career in adult creation.
“Reddit being an amazing resource for almost any topic was like an easy spot, especially if you wanted to be an anonymous seller, which means that you don’t like necessarily show face. And you’re very private with your identity. And so that was a great place to start to dip your toes into adult work,” York said.
Fighting suppression on social media platforms
According to a 2024 TechReport article, OnlyFans has an average of 170 million users but they often have to work hard to find their favorite creator as OnlyFans has a limited search function. This has made it imperative for users to promote their content on social media, but users who do not fit the preferred body type of social media platforms often face discrimination.
Ashley Elizabeth, who first started the content on YouTube in 2008, created various videos about advice, unboxing, and beauty videos before transitioning to Patreon and OnlyFans in 2020. Elizabeth’s main YouTube channel has amassed over 417,000 subscribers and has led her to have a strong social media following. However, she stated there’s a high learning curve for those who want to begin creating adult content.
“It’s hard because you have to learn a whole new language, especially if you don’t have a social media following. You have to learn Reddit you have to learn Twitter, you have to learn all these terms of services, and then you can’t go against them. And you have to be sly enough to promote it here and then have these link click through websites. And it’s difficult for people to do when they’re starting from nothing,” Elizabeth said.
Not that things were always easy
But just because creators have a fan following on social media platforms doesn’t mean they don’t encounter consistent challenges. Elizabeth explains how she often has to be mindful of what she posts to avoid suppression of her content.
“I had an Instagram post be taken down when I was 30 pounds heavier in a bikini versus now because I would assume it’s because it’s not a socially acceptable body versus what you typically see. And then I’ve had TikTok accounts be banned for mentioning OnlyFans, and now you have full TikTok accounts, just talking about OnlyFans. So it really does seem kind of like what they latch on to take down. And now I’m very, very careful about the things that I post, and it’s very much if you’re interested, you kind of got a search through it,” Elizabeth said.
Bea York has encountered similar challenges and believes social media algorithms are biased toward non-traditional body types.
“I think the biggest adjustment that I’ve done is to not put as much love and effort into something that will most likely be suppressed by the algorithm. I mean, not only because I’m in the adult industry, but the other biggest thing that I’ve seen is that the algorithm is incredibly biased towards curvier bodies, and larger bodies in general. So things that other people can get away with on Instagram or YouTube. I absolutely can’t,” York said.
Advice when entering the adult space in 2024
The secret is out as OnlyFans has exploded in popularity, attracting an estimated 1.5 million to 2 million content creators. Celebrities such as Cardi B and Bella Thorne have capitalized on the platform, demonstrating its potential as an additional revenue stream.
New creators face an uphill battle to gain traction but there is hope if creators can use their social media followings to lead them to OnlyFans page.
“It helps to just kind of play around on TikTok and reels and Instagram and Twitter. Gain an audience that you can then bring over to your subscription sites,” York said.
While it’s important to build a social media following, Ashley Elizabeth wants new creators to make sure to always respect their boundaries when making content.
“I would say tip wise is just do what you’re comfortable with. You have to be prepared if you’re new to turn down a crazy amount of money to do stuff that you’re not at the point where you’re comfortable yet and you have to be okay with that. Because honestly, you just can’t go outside your comfort zone and you have to be able to be safe,” Elizabeth said.
Both creators have remained successful after the OnlyFans boom in 2020 by having a consistent social media following on multiple platforms and being able to adapt to the always-changing landscape of content creation.
Image Sources: Depositphotos
