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Adult websites are booming in Britain as pandemic-hit workers grab a quick buck. Some women have been making thousands of pounds by posting nude or lingerie-clad photographs and videos to paying subscribers online. But while critics have raised concerns about revenge porn, others say it is an empowering way for women to make a living – and even describe it as a “lifeline”. Website OnlyFans, which has 30 million users and 450,000 “creators”, reported a 75 per cent rise in sign-ups during March and April, while Fanzworld doubled its subscribers. Here, three women who signed up to adult-only subscription sites during lockdown explain why they did it – and how it has kept them financially afloat during the pandemic. Bar Manager Catherine
Catherine posted topless photos and glamour shots on the websites, but made sure she always felt comfortable
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Single mum Catherine, 38, says fan sites were “a godsend” to her after she went into lockdown facing serious financial hardship. She had been earning £1,800 a month for nearly two years but, because she was self-employed, she found herself without any income when the bar she managed was forced to close. She said: “I totally fell through the gap. It was horrendous. “I needed two years’ worth of accounts to qualify for support and was only three months short of that. “It meant I was entitled to nothing – I couldn’t get help from the government and couldn’t be furloughed. “I was offered £73 a month universal credit but that wouldn’t even cover my rent, never mind gas, electricity and feeding my kids, who are seven and 13. “We were all at home, so the electricity was being used all day and I had to feed my kids more because they weren’t getting their school meals. I panicked because I went from a full-time wage to nothing.” So when friends told Catherine about online adult subscription sites, she signed up. She said: “For me, it was a total lifeline. I made £3,000 in the first month, after joining Fanzworld and OnlyFans. “Without that work I would have lost everything. “The fan sites were a godsend and got me out of a really sticky situation. “I didn’t feel brilliant having to do it, if I’m honest. But lockdown put a lot of people in really bad situations. “I was lucky to find a way out. I’ve had friends take their lives because of financial struggles during the pandemic.”
When friends told Catherine about online adult subscription sites, she signed up after loosing her income
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Catherine, from Preston, Lancs, posted topless photos and glamour shots on the websites, but made sure she always felt comfortable with what she was doing. She said: “Sometimes I would just post a picture of me soaking up the sun in the garden. “The men would pay more for a chat on messenger online and that sometimes felt like a normal chat with a friend. “I had some lovely fans who understood why I was doing what I did and would send money to help me out. “Lots of people have a really bad perception of fan sites and think they’re sleazy, but it’s not what you think and you can make a fortune. You get to set your own standards and charge accordingly. “My subscribers paid £7 a month and came from all over the world. A lot of the men in the UK were bored, home alone in lockdown and just wanted interaction.” She added: “I never worried about revenge porn because the men who sign up for these sites often don’t want people knowing.” Catherine now works in security – and runs courses to help get people back into employment after lockdown. She said: “This was a stop gap for me, but it really helped me through what would have been an unbearable time.” A&E Nurse Nicola
Nicola said; ‘I decided to sign up to some sites initially for the fun of it and as an escape'
Mum-of-four Nicola turned to adult sites when her nursing shifts in A&E were cut during the pandemic. The 39-year-old said: “I’ve been working in healthcare for 20 years. While coronavirus was at its peak our shifts were reduced to stop there being too many people in the department. “It was such a depressing time, with everything that was going on. I decided to sign up to some sites initially for the fun of it and as an escape.” But Nicola, from Lincoln, earned £4,500 in her first month – much more than her £1,750 nurse’s pay. She said: “I am very careful about what I post. I keep it extremely tasteful. I post pictures or short video clips in swimwear, bikinis or gym wear. “I know some girls go totally nude, but I don’t – and I still do well. “I don’t worry about revenge porn because the pictures I post are no different from the holiday photos other women post on Instagram. “The only difference is I’m getting paid for it. I don’t do anything distasteful or harmful.” She added: “I’ve had negative comments from people who have said I do porn, but this isn’t porn. “It’s a legitimate way to make money during a tough time. And it has been a huge help financially.” Graphic Designer Abi
Abi said: ‘I still want to go back into Graphic Design but this is a good alternative for now'
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Abi turned to fan sites after she lost her job in the lockdown. The 23-year-old, who graduated from Leeds Beckett University in 2019, was earning £12,000 a year designing artwork for a paint brush company. She said: “I loved it. It’s what I always wanted to do.” But then coronavirus hit and Abi was made redundant. She joined several sites – including Glamour Lounge Live, which runs live webcams. She said: “I was nervous but because I can’t see the men viewing me I quickly built up my confidence. I’m now making an average of £1000 a week. “I do worry about people re-posting my images, but I won’t post anything too explicit. I still want to go back into Graphic Design but this is a good alternative for now.”
Abi is one of a number of women finding alternate ways of making cash during the crisis
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The Hidden Dangers of Flirty Work websites have seen a surge in subscriptions since lockdown, with OnlyFans gaining about 150,000 new users a day. But a support group has warned women they could face long-term consequences by signing up. And they have also been told they will probably make little money in a crowded market. Linda Thomson of the Women’s Support Project says the industry, pitched as empowering and lucrative, is fraught with risks including stalking and harassment. She added that such sites “are failing to protect the women”. One ex-creator said: “OnlyFans can be physically safer than doing traditional sex work or having a sugar daddy… but it does have its own risks. “It could disqualify you for potential future careers… and may pop up in background checks when emigrating or applying for government jobs.”
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/ae-nurse-more-doubles-pay-22527344
Brandon Thompson is a childhood sexual abuse survivor who believes that all sexualities, kinks, and preferences should be respected as long as they are not criminal or exploitative. Aiming to clean up the image of the adult industry, he has helped over 200,000 people in 210 different countries find the premium porn sites that best suit them. The goal of Porn Trial is to help individuals save money and feel safe in their preferences. All Porn Trial content is SFW. This is something he swears by and is very proud of.