[Generated for Academic Purposes] Publication: Journal of Digital Culture & Gig Economy , Vol. 14, Issue 2
OnlyFans, social media, digital labor, sex work, content creation, impression management, algorithmic governance. 1. Introduction Since its rebranding as a hub for adult content in 2020, OnlyFans has become synonymous with a new class of digital entrepreneur. Unlike traditional adult entertainment, which relied on studio production and distribution deals, OnlyFans positions creators as independent owners of their image and revenue streams. However, OnlyFans possesses a critical structural flaw for discovery: it lacks a native, algorithm-driven search engine or "For You" page (with minimal internal discovery features). Consequently, a creator’s success on OnlyFans is almost entirely contingent on their ability to drive traffic from external social media platforms.
This paper explores the central question: How does the strategic use of public social media content (“on the wall”) determine the career trajectory and sustainability of an OnlyFans creator?