TikTok accused of helping to promote the sex industry to young users

A recent study has alleged that TikTok is accused of aiding the normalisation and promotion of the sex industry to young audiences. Researchers examined non-explicit content posted over a one-year period by some of the most popular young female creators on OnlyFans, revealing that these performers frequently embed subtle references to pornography within everyday lifestyle videos involving baking, skincare routines, and pet care.

While direct links and explicit mentions of OnlyFans are prohibited on the platform, performers reportedly bypass these restrictions by utilising euphemisms, emojis, and crude gestures. Terms like "corn" or the corn emoji paired with a star are allegedly used to hint at adult material hosted elsewhere. The investigation, titled the TikTok to OnlyFans pipeline, was carried out by researchers from the Centre to End All Sexual Exploitation in the UK and Collective Shout in Australia.

Popular OnlyFans performers covertly market adult content and wealthy lifestyles through safe-for-work lifestyle videos on TikTok.

In viral videos, creators frequently discuss the financial gains from selling adult content, often using imagery featuring luxury cars, private jets, and large sums of cash. Some performers framed OnlyFans as a financial solution to poverty, presenting it as a way to escape underprivileged lives. Data cited in the report indicates that while top creators earn millions, the average annual earnings for the platform's millions of registered performers remain significantly lower.

Melinda Tankard Reist of Collective Shout criticised the platform for acting as a digital pimp funnelling girls into the sex industry. Conversely, a TikTok spokesperson stated that the platform strictly prohibits sexual content, employing advanced technologies to enforce community guidelines and prevent age-inappropriate material from reaching teenagers. An OnlyFans representative emphasised that their platform maintains strict onboarding processes to restrict access to individuals aged 18 and over.

Why it matters

The findings highlight ongoing concerns regarding the overlap between mainstream social media platforms and adult content sites, particularly concerning underage audiences. Authors of the report have advocated for an expansion of existing bans on explicit pornographic material to include posts that promote or relate to the sex industry.