Bringing down women is not hot, but how come what OnlyFans influencers are doing is?

The world of female sex workers has always been a touchy and closed subject. The lives of the workers have been shut off from most of the world because of the controversy of their work and the derogatory representation of women but recently have been in the limelight as “empowering.”

Content creators like Camilla Araujo and Sophie Rain have gained massive viewership from platforms like TikTok, garnering over 400 million likes, with the main center of their content being their occupation: OnlyFans.

OnlyFans is a well-known subscription service that is known as a place where people pay to see creators make content, especially explicit content.

Camilla and Sophie have grouped up with other popular OnlyFans creators and made a TikTok house called “The Bop House.”

A large group of the “Bop House” fanbase consists of younger (mostly female) audiences who are being exposed to this kind of content, unaware of the actual intentions behind the things they are posting.

Most of the videos they post are of them doing weird dances in kids’ pajamas or flexing their earnings from OnlyFans, influencing the audience into believing that the adult industry is an easy gig for easy money without knowing the dark side of it all.

The price of working and being part of the industry can cost more than a seamless paycheck. The negative effects can include exploitation of minors, severe mental health issues, lack of protection, financial insecurity and instability, and unfortunately, many more.

The internet is divided on whether the “Bop House” is worth the support or engagement they are getting from fans. Some people are in complete support, saying that this is an empowering act for women to do what they please without the stigma surrounding this field of work. Their supporters comment under videos saying it’s their life and their choice, but this is where the glass starts to crack.

The sex industry has always been more centered around women. Statistics show that 20–25% of the industry is filled with women, but recently the numbers have been increasing. Coming back to the fact that OnlyFans creators’ fanbases and the people viewing their content are mostly younger female audiences, these viewers are influenced into seeing women in their early 20s making millions off their jobs, which some couldn’t achieve in their entire lifetime.

These same women are preying on fans to get them into the industry. Most female fans take these influencers and turn them into role models, almost gods. From wearing the same clothes as them, liking and commenting on every single one of their videos, and even going as far as copying their lifestyle, these fans are blinded when they try to follow in the footsteps of these influencers, unaware of the consequences of their actions and the risks it holds for their future.

Former OnlyFans creator Mia Khalifa went on an interview with the BBC speaking out about the adult industry. When the interviewer asked about the post-traumatic stress she feels even after quitting, she replied, “It kicks in when I go out in public because the stares I get—it feels like people can see through my clothes, and it brings me deep shame.” She also stated that she feels like she “lost her right to privacy.” Even though she was earning almost $30,000 a month, that wasn’t enough to make the after-effects any easier. She also talked about how many girls have reached out and told their stories of how they were forced, taken advantage of, and exploited by the industry, and that there was nothing they could do about it.

Nothing about sex work is empowering. Most people do it out of desperation or are forced into it, not as a dream job. These influencers are not only feeding on people’s desires and lust but are also helping make girls targets, because as people view their content, they think this is what all girls want and assume we are all sex symbols, which brings us down even more. We, as people, must know who and what we are glamorizing and whose pockets we are filling. These young girls are making so much more money than teachers, healthcare workers, and other occupations that actually work hard and not just pose seductively in front of a camera.

Not only is money a problem, but the ages of these girls are as well. Some of these girls aren’t even past the age of 25 and have just passed the age of 18. They are making decisions that have dangerous effects on their future because they are not at the mental age to fully understand the consequences of their actions. We all are seeing this, and we still decide to give them more recognition and fame. Almost every video has more than 1 million views. That is one million people seeing each video—one million people seeing the glories of OnlyFans, one million people seeing these youthful girls sexualizing themselves, and one million people engaging with and supporting it.