Is OnlyFans ruining traditional porn? Interview

The porn industry has changed significantly in the past couple of decades. When free Tube sites like PornHub became popular, the industry was forced to rethink its distribution model.

More recently, OnlyFans came onto the scene and turned the industry on its head. But is OnlyFans ruining the traditional porn industry?

We decided to go straight to the source and spoke with an expert in all things adult entertainment for an insider perspective.

With seven years of experience as an actor in the traditional porn industry, our interviewee, who asked to remain anonymous, has witnessed its evolution firsthand. 

They bring a broad spectrum of experience within the industry, giving them unique insight into trends and the changing landscape of content consumption.

This shift has led them to create content that is ethical, educational, and artistically-minded. These are values that align with the core principles of OnlyFans, which they have now incorporated into their repertoire.

Has the rise of OnlyFans has impacted the established porn industry negatively?

Our interviewee taps into their experience to share a compelling perspective on this ongoing debate.

Let’s dive in.

Q: Tell us a bit about yourself

I have been working in the porn industry for seven years, and I have experienced and seen it all. I can confidently say that I have found a way to separate the good from the bad and continue to focus on creating content that is more than just sex.

It’s artistic; it’s beautiful, it’s real, it’s authentic, educational, ethical, and positively impacts the sex life of the consumers.

Q: Do you believe the rise of OnlyFans has impacted the traditional porn industry? In what ways?

I feel that the rise of Onlyfans has impacted the traditional porn industry in positive and negative ways, but mostly positive because, now more than ever, we have access to content from real, honest sexual bodies.

We now have the option to subscribe and view what we are truly curious about, interested in, or turned on by. 

This allows more freedom of expression and opens our sexual minds to consume content in a more authentic approach.

Pre Onlyfans, our consumption was usually narrowed down to what we came across on the Internet, or what was a pop-up on a sketchy website.

Adult content, now more than ever, is more personable, more real and more artistic which of course makes it much easier to consume. 

Q: In your opinion, is there overlap or competition between the industries?

Yes, in general, it does overlap, and there is a level of competition between the two industries because a lot of performers nowadays realize that they can earn more by creating their own content rather than working with studio productions.

Also, they benefit from having more flexibility and freedom to have the sex that you truly want to be having and shooting with partners that you want to be shooting with, rather than just accepting an offer because it pays well or because a director wants something specific and you’re happy to do it because of the payment.

Now, you can be completely free to do as you wish - so yes, it definitely does take performers from wanting or needing to work with studio productions.

Q: Is it possible for actors in the traditional industry to leverage OF as a promotion tool? How so? Do you have any tips and examples of actors doing so?

It is absolutely possible for actors in this traditional industry to leverage Onlyfans as a promotional tool purely because there are always fans and followers that may want to see more of you in a private setting.

Onlyfans allows performers with a significant fan base from studio porn to be able to earn an additional income from their personalized content.

Performers and actors that have a significant following on social media can especially benefit from leveraging their OnlyFans with their following online. 

That is the ultimate business model given that the following is there.

Q: In terms of agency over the actor’s career and income, how do you think OF and traditional porn compare?

They are quite different. Having an agency means that you have someone scheduling traditional bookings for you on film sets.

If that’s what you enjoy making an income from, then yes, there’s a lot of capital potential. 

However, if you have a significant following online, you can earn far more through OnlyFans for doing less ‘work.’

It does require a different level of expertise and skills, however, you are in control of your earning potential. Ultimately, the combination of both channels will always maximize your earning potential.

Q: How do you picture the future of the adult entertainment industry?

The increase in consumption of subscription sites like OnlyFans and other platforms are going to change the future of the porn, yes.

However, I think studio porn will always be around because of how easily accessible it is to viewers that may not want to pay for their porn, and many studio productions are often posted online on several Tube sites for free. And the majority of porn consumers consume free porn, so I believe that there will always be a consumer base for porn studios. 

I do believe that OnlyFans is helping to change porn for the better because the studios are now more aware of their competition, which makes them more inclined to be more accommodating to performers' needs, desires and ultimately treating them more ethically.

I also think that the future of porn is changing significantly for the better because the creators are no longer creating content produced by cis white American men. Now there are far more Creators for potential consumers, and that creates a competition between studios and Creators, which forces studios to be more honest and ethical.

I think the future of the adult industry is certainly shifting in a very positive way because we are no longer forced to consume Porn from a cis white men’s fantasy, and we now have access to more relatable, realistic, and honest content.

That being said, mainstream porn studios that receive astronomical numbers of viewers will continue to be the main form of consumption because the majority of porn consumers are not willing to pay for their porn and are happy to consume what’s the easiest accessible.

Conclusion

OnlyFans has introduced new opportunities for Creators and also put pressure on traditional porn studios to become more ethical and accommodating. 

This shift highlights the importance of choice for individual Creators—whether that means leveraging OnlyFans for more agency, using it as a promotional tool for traditional work, or a combination of both.

Success in the adult entertainment industry is now more about Creators carving their own path based on their desires and goals than ever before.