OnlyFans Limits New Referral Bonuses to One Year

LONDON — OnlyFans, which has seen a remarkable spike in signups since the beginning of the pandemic, has made a big change to its user referral program. In a new policy instituted last week, OnlyFans referral earnings will only last for a year. OnlyFans, up until last week, rewarded users five percent for bringing in new creators throughout the lifetime of the referred one’s account. Under the new policy, referring a creator to the platform earns users five percent of that creator's earnings for the first year only. Referrals started prior to May 1 will have one more year to receive earnings from referrals. But after that, those annual dividends will come to a screeching stop. OnlyFans allows users to share content behind a paywall, with fans opening their wallets for paid subscriptions in order to gain access. The platform has become popular for established adult entertainers, who can easily earn money without their own website or working with third-party paysites. In recent months, it also has hosted a wave of adult newbies. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the platform reported more than a 75 percent increase in new sign-ups and is gaining around 150,000 new users every 24 hours, according to Forbes. London-based OnlyFans, which has been in business for four years, takes a 20 percent cut from models who offer fare on its site. The referral program for newbies was popular among established OnlyFans talent, particularly because the five percent bump came out of platform’s end. Vice, which reported on the policy change today, said that adult model Aaron Lowe has launched a petition in an attempt to persuade OnlyFans to reverse its course with referrals. "The referral system is the only reason OnlyFans became a household name and, without it, there wouldn't be an OnlyFans," said Lowe, who made $50,000 from one referral alone, but under the new terms, he said his income will drop a few thousand dollars per month. "I only referred people because of the lifetime five percent."   "Sex workers get taken advantage of far too often and it has to stop," Lowe told Vice. "They deserve to be treated fairly, as do all people in life. Many creators are looking to join new fan sites already and, if we don't get confirmation from OnlyFans of the lifetime referral program being honored, then thousands of creators will likely leave OnlyFans and their fans will follow." OnlyFans model Ally Hardesty, who offers a YouTube channel featuring advice and guidance for people trying to get into adult modeling, told Vice that "it's disturbing that OnlyFans chose to make this change in the middle of a pandemic and is punishing the same people who have been the foundation of their growth and success.” "I believe this will demotivate models who have built their business around helping others to succeed and overall defer them from referring new people," she said. In a response to the policy change, OnlyFans said: "We have made the important decision to invest even more resources in our infrastructure, our technology and our support teams so we can continue to grow as the top platform for creators to earn money."   Pictured: OnlyFans model Ally Hardesty