Is OnlyFans affecting Gen Z's view of intimacy?

In the digital world where access to pornography and explicit imagery has become the norm, OnlyFans has become a top discussion among Gen Z (people born between 1997 and 2012).

Marketed as a 'better’ alternative to mainstream pornography, the digital platform allows creators to sell their nude photos and videos and gain increasing fame.

The rise of OnlyFans creators Lilly Phillips and Bonnie Blue—both part of Gen Z—has sparked growing concern over the platform and its impact.

For some, the platform is a revolutionary tool that allows sex workers, mainly women, to gain financial control and normalize diverse bodies.

Others see it as a digital trap that has normalized commodifying intimacy and reverting back to patriarchal norms surrounding women’s bodies.

The Gen Z generation, known for its progressive and sex-positive attitudes, is grappling with the platform’s growing influence in many ways.

Young people are divided by the growing influence of digital intimacy on their relationships and understanding of sex.

What is OnlyFans?

OnlyFans is a digital pornographic subscription platform.

The app has become increasingly popular among sex workers and entrepreneurial creators selling photos, videos, and live streams.

Grazia Magazine reported, in February 2021, OnlyFans had 20 million subscribers in total.

In December 2024, the numbers rose to almost 240 million registered users.

A study conducted by experts in psychology and sexual behaviour examined the effects of OnlyFans on intimacy and relationships, highlighting its dramatic influence.

The survey brought 335 men and 383 women aged 18 to 71, revealing 89% of subscribers were white, married men.

Unlike traditional adult pornography platforms, creators gain control over their earnings and published content, with many arguing it’s liberating benefits.

The Rise of Gen Z Creators

Some Gen Zs see OnlyFans as an empowering platform for financial independence, while others argue it commodifies intimacy in a way that could have long-term consequences.

Photo Credit: Kasia Flisiuk

Female creators dominate the digital platform at 84%, with only 14% male creators.

While Only Fans subscribers remain predominantly male, with 71% male users and only 29% of female users.

In 2024, the digital platform had 305 million registered users worldwide and 4.11 million creators.

The platform is most popular among millennials and Gen Z.

Most Only Fans users are young people between 18 and 34, making up 60% of the overall.

Social Rise estimates around 70-80% of Only Fans digital content is of pornographic nature.

Lily PhiLlips: the psychological Impact of OnlyFans

The Gen Z OnlyFans creator, Lily Phillips, sparked controversy after her emotional breakdown when she publicly advertised sleeping with 100 men in one day.

Her tears sparked intense debate around the platform’s impact on intimacy and self-worth.

Lily Phillips, one of the most popular names in the industry, shared her experience in filmmaker J osh Pieters’ documentary, which received more than 5 million views, inciting passionate responses.

Many ethical concerns arose, discussing the psychological impact digital pornography is having on both creators and consumers.

Phillips confessed to dissociating during the ‘101’ challenge in October.

Dissociation is known as a coping mechanism for extreme trauma.

Better Health Channel defines disassociation as a: "mental process of disconnecting from one's thoughts, feelings, memories or sense of identity."

The 23-year-old said she only remembers the first five or so men.

Julie Bindel, a feminist campaigner against sexual violence, stands strongly against Phillips’ decisions.

She said: “Why would they want to have sex with a woman after so many others?”

“For me, it raises the image of those men queueing to rape Gisele Pelicot."
Julie Bindel

Bindel added: “When women like Lily talk about being driven by sexual desire, this is all part of the fantasy constructed for men.”

Many have criticized Phillips for validating and promoting a distorted image of intimacy.

But Phillips has defended the experience.

In an interview with the Daily Star, Phillips emphasised she is "not a victim" and doesn't need "sympathy."

Phillips said: "I mean obviously I was quite emotional and just very, very overwhelmed.

"It's intense to go from probably one of the most hated people to a lot of lovely messages.

"It's sweet, but I don't necessary need any kind of concern."

Lily is currently in training to complete the 1000 men in one day challenge, in which she plans to sleep with 1000 men in 24 hours.

"I don’t think Only Fans is always ethical. Lily Phillips is obviously not in a healthy state of mind.”
Anonymous Gen Z

is onlyfans sexually liberating? gen z tells

Mizy, a 24-year-old queer and trans journalist, distinguishes OnlyFans from mainstream platforms such as Pornhub.

Mizy, Gen Z journalist, speaks of OnlyFans' influence in shaping digital pornography. Copyright: Kasia Flisiuk

“At the end of the day people have freedom to do whatever they wish with their bodies or self image.”
Anonymous Gen Z

Mizy speaks of OnlyFans influence on Gen Z's perception of intimacy. Copyright: Kasia Flisiuk

Gen Z’s divided views on Only fans empowerment

Philly, 24, a paralegal, believes OnlyFans has become a focal point in Gen Z’s conversations on sex, autonomy and digital intimacy.

She said: “There are countless documentaries, TikToks, you can’t open anything without some kind of discourse on it.”

Philly believes the platform has fundamentally shifted how intimacy and relationships are perceived, blurring the lines between personal connection and commodification.

For some female creators, it offers a space of empowerment to freely explore their sexuality.

But Philly is cautious about the potential hidden exploitation young women are willingly entering under the name of feminism.

She said: “I am a feminist.

“I do think they do it in the name of feminism, but I think it’s become warped.

“Just because you’re getting money for it, and you’re doing it with consent does not mean it does not reinforce patriarchy.”

Philly heavily critiques the dominant image of OnlyFans aligning with feminist ideals.

Though it may offer autonomy, it often commodifies women’s bodies for male consumption.

Philly emphasized: “You can say, bodily autonomy is my own decision.

“But at the end of the day, you're still having to use your body to get something from a man.”

The 24-year-old also raised ethical concerns about the influence of digital platforms like Only Fans is having on sex education.

She believes younger generations are taught unrealistic expectations about sex and relationships.

Photo credit: chloesimpson on Unsplash

OnlyFans creator Bonnie Blue raised heated debates and concerns in January 2025 after claiming to sleep with 1057 men in less than 24 hours, breaking the record.

Mizy separates OnlyFans from mainstream platforms like Pornhub, perceiving it as a space for creators to exercise agency and empowerment.

With an academic background in gender studies, he resists framing sex work and OnlyFans as solely either empowering or exploitative of women’s bodies.

Mizy does not think OnlyFans has a strong impact on Gen Z’s view of intimacy.

He stated: “All of the sexual images we consume are distorted in some way.

“We often consume them precisely because they don’t reflect our realities.

“I don’t think there’s anything intrinsically wrong with that."

Instead Mizy believes OnlyFans supports a more diverse and inclusive representation of sexuality in media.

They emphasized: “For a lot of trans and queer people, creators, they find on OnlyFans or similar sites can be really healing and empowering, offering spaces where they can see themselves as desirable or imagine themselves as sexual beings.”

For Mizy the critical takeaway is the complexity of empowerment and exploitation in labour and media.

He believes sexuality and desire are deeply personal and open mindlessness is required to understand the empowering element of digital intimacy.

The mansion Bonnie Blue completed her '1000 men in one day' challenge. Photo Credit: Kasia Flisiuk

Bonnie Blue's set where she completed her '1000 men in one day' challenge. Photo Credit: Kasia Flisiuk

Is OnlyFans anti-feminist or liberating?

When asked if Only Fans is a genuine platform of liberation or a distorted illusion of bodily autonomy, Gen Z was divided.

"Sexual liberation, undoing stigma, finding community."

- Anonymous Gen Z on OnlyFans positives

Anja Jungmayr, Gen Z, expresses her concerns over OnlyFans influence in feminist conversation. Copyright: Kasia Flisiuk

Photo credit: Lindsey LaMont on Unsplash

Bonnie Blue: Breaking taboos or exploitative?

The OnlyFans adult content creator, Bonnie Blue, has received a lot of backlash for her controversial statements and approach to her work.

She describes herself sleeping with ‘hundreds’ of ‘barely legal’ 18-year-olds and ‘barely breathing’ dads.

Blue claims to check each person’s ID and asks them to sign a form of consent to be filmed and posted on her OnlyFans page.

Many Gen Z’s have criticised the creator for 'manipulating' young men and glamorising predatory behaviour.

The 25-year-old OnlyFans creator sees the platform as more than an opportunity to gain financial independence.

Bonnie Blue describes it as a space to break taboos and redefine the stigmatised conversations surrounding sex and intimacy.

She explained: “The reason I get so much hate, along with other women, OnlyFans creators, is I’m talking so proudly about sex.

“Men, women have always had sex, but we’ve been shamed upon it.

“Whereas OnlyFans allows us to talk more openly about it.

“And that’s what’s shocking people.”

Bonnie views this bold approach as a needed step to normalize conversations around sex and pleasure which she believes has been silenced despite its presence in art and culture.

She strives to create content that is “real, raw and relatable”, acknowledging the imperfections of human intimacy.

The controversial OnlyFans star believes her content is not only empowering but educational for Gen Z and wider audiences.

She does this to showcase authenticity and break away from unrealistic expectations mainstream pornography has presented.

Photo Credit: Kasia Flisiuk

In the digital age, where access to explicit images is easy and normalized, OnlyFans has become a catalyst for ongoing debate about intimacy and the consenting commodification of sex.

Though most creators view the platform as empowering, exercising financial freedom, others say it has distorted feminist ideals, furthering patriarchal norms.

Gen Z, who grew up during the rise of technology and digital pornography, are divided on the influence OnlyFans has.

For some, OnlyFans is a space of self-expression and education.

Others wish to highlight the deeper issues that have enabled the exploitation of women’s bodies.

OnlyFans continues to dominate cultural conversation, as Gen Z tackles the influence digital intimacy is having on their complex understanding of consent and exploitation within intimacy and relationships.