A new study published in the journal Sexuality & Culture has found that many adolescents in Spain, including those as young as 12, are not only aware of OnlyFans but also see it as a viable and even empowering way to make money. In group discussions with over 160 teenagers, researchers discovered that platforms promoting erotic content are influencing how young people—especially girls—view economic opportunity, self-worth, and sexuality. Teens frequently framed content creation as a personal choice or expression of agency, while minimizing the risks.
The research was motivated by growing concerns about how sexualized media and the normalization of erotic self-presentation affect adolescents’ development. As OnlyFans and similar platforms are increasingly promoted on mainstream social media, researchers sought to understand how teens perceive these messages. They were especially interested in whether adolescents internalize gender norms and ideas about intimacy being a product that can be monetized.
“We were increasingly concerned about the impact of hypersexualized digital culture on adolescents, especially the normalization of platforms like OnlyFans across social media,” said study author Kristel Anciones-Anguita, a PhD candidate at the University of Alcalá. “Although these platforms are legally restricted to adults, minors are not only accessing their content but also integrating it into their everyday cultural and career aspirations. We wanted to explore how this exposure affects their psychosocial development, gender perceptions, and views on intimacy and success.”
To explore these issues, the researchers conducted a qualitative study involving 164 high school students aged 12 to 16 from both urban and rural areas in Guadalajara, Spain. All participants took part in focus group discussions as part of a broader sex education program. The researchers used a method called reflexive thematic analysis to identify recurring patterns in how teens described their understanding of OnlyFans, their media consumption habits, and their attitudes toward sexual content.
The researchers found that even young teens have a sophisticated understanding of how OnlyFans works. Many described the platform’s business model in detail, explaining how subscribers pay for exclusive content and how earnings depend on popularity, frequency of posts, and willingness to share more explicit material. Participants often referenced girls’ physical appearance as a key factor in success, suggesting that those who match certain beauty standards are more likely to earn money. Some boys also described the platform as a realistic option for their own futures, though they generally saw it as more lucrative for women.
While some teens expressed discomfort with the sexual content associated with OnlyFans, others framed participation as a rational economic decision, especially for girls who might not pursue traditional education or employment.
Girls in particular recognized the tension between agency and coercion. Some said it was a personal choice, while others pointed out that financial need often makes the decision feel less than voluntary. A few even likened it to prostitution, questioning whether anyone truly chooses to sell intimate content if they are struggling economically. This tension echoed broader concerns in the literature about how the language of empowerment can mask deeper power imbalances.
The promotion of OnlyFans on popular platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter also emerged as a significant influence. Teens reported seeing frequent posts or ads for the platform, often featuring stories of people making thousands of euros per month by sharing sexualized photos or videos. Some students had received direct messages encouraging them to create content or subscribe to accounts. Several girls mentioned being sent unsolicited explicit images alongside invitations to join the platform.
Boys, meanwhile, reported seeing pop-up ads or pirated content in group chats and messaging apps like Telegram or Discord. Many admitted to accessing this content despite OnlyFans’ age restrictions, describing various workarounds to bypass verification systems.
Another important finding was how strongly OnlyFans was associated with financial success. Teens repeatedly cited the platform as an easier and more appealing alternative to traditional work or education. In this environment, sexual self-presentation was often described as a smart or even admirable strategy.
This view mirrors what some scholars call “neoliberal sexual entrepreneurship,” where individuals—particularly young women—are encouraged to brand themselves online and turn their sexuality into a marketable asset. The danger, researchers argue, is that this logic reduces self-worth to how well one can attract attention or generate income from one’s appearance.
“We were struck by how naturally adolescents discussed OnlyFans, demonstrating a clear understanding of its subscription-based model and even sharing techniques to bypass age restrictions,” Anciones-Anguita told PsyPost. “What was most surprising was how some teens framed self-sexualization as a form of personal choice or empowerment, without fully acknowledging the underlying economic and social pressures that influence such decisions.”
The study also highlighted gender disparities in how adolescents experience and interpret this digital culture. Girls were more likely to express concerns about body image, judgment, and safety, while boys often spoke more casually about the platform or focused on its financial potential.
These patterns reinforce long-standing inequalities in how girls and boys are socialized around sex and self-expression. For example, girls were more likely to receive unwanted sexual messages or feel pressure to meet beauty standards, while boys described their role more as consumers than as creators of content.
Despite being aware of these dynamics, many teens still viewed the trade-off between risk and reward as worth it. For example, some participants shrugged off concerns about stolen content, exploitation, or future regret, focusing instead on the immediate financial benefits.
Others expressed admiration for girls who made money through OnlyFans, seeing them as smart or independent. This normalization of sexualized self-presentation—and the lack of critical reflection on its long-term consequences—worried the researchers, who warned that it reflects a broader cultural shift toward viewing intimacy and the body as tools for profit.
These findings are significant because they suggest that current education and regulatory systems are not keeping pace with the rapid changes in how sexual content is created, consumed, and promoted. The authors of the study argue that adolescents need more than just warnings about online safety—they need comprehensive education that addresses the social, economic, and psychological aspects of sexualized digital culture. Schools, they say, should implement programs that teach digital literacy, critical thinking, and respectful communication, with a special focus on how gender and power shape online interactions.
Parents also have a role to play, the researchers said. Open, nonjudgmental conversations about sexuality and media influence can help teens navigate these complex environments. At the same time, governments and tech companies must strengthen policies to prevent the promotion of sexualized content to minors. This could include better age verification tools, restrictions on algorithm-driven exposure to adult content, and increased transparency about how platforms target young users.
“Constant exposure to sexualized content through social media can significantly shape how adolescents view sexuality, empowerment, and economic opportunity,” Anciones-Anguita said. “Many teens — especially boys — perceive OnlyFans as a viable path to financial independence, often overlooking associated risks like exploitation, cyberbullying, and long-term psychological consequences. This underscores the urgent need for comprehensive digital literacy and affective-sexual education.”
But as with all research, there are limitations. The authors caution that the findings may not apply universally. Because the research took place in a specific region of Spain, cultural differences in other areas might lead to different results. Additionally, the group setting of focus groups may have affected how freely some participants—especially girls—felt they could speak. Still, the consistency of responses across different schools and demographics suggests that the themes identified are broadly relevant.
“We plan to expand our research to include cross-cultural and longitudinal studies, examining how digital sexualization influences adolescent development over time,” Anciones-Anguita explained. “We are also interested in developing and evaluating educational programs and public policies that promote healthier digital and sexual behaviors.”
“This study should be seen within the broader context of neoliberal and postfeminist ideologies that commodify intimacy and promote self-exploitation as empowerment,” she added. “For those interested in a deeper exploration of these dynamics, I recommend reading this article I wrote for InGenere: https://www.ingenere.it/en/articles/illusion-sexual-freedom. Additionally, I’ll soon be publishing a systematic review on adolescent sexual agency on social media in the journal Sexual Policy and Research. I believe it will offer valuable insights that complement the findings of this current study.”
The study, “Making Money on OnlyFans? A Study on the Promotion of Erotic Content Platforms on Social Media and their Influence on Adolescents,” was authored by Kristel Anciones Anguita and Mirian Checa Romero.
