Impact of Unspecified 'Pornography' Definition on OnlyFans
OnlyFans, a platform that generated $7.22 billion in gross revenue last year and supports over 4.6 million creator accounts , finds itself at a crossroads due to recent legislative changes. This diverse content platform, known for hosting everything from cooking shows to yoga classes, is facing significant legal ambiguities due to President Trump's "One Big, Beautiful Bill," enacted on July 4, 2025. Specifically, the legislation offers tax relief on tips but explicitly excludes adult content without defining what constitutes such content.
Threat to Content Creators Across Various Genres
The absence of a clear definition of 'pornography' in the legislation poses a threat to a wide range of content creators who might now find themselves unfairly categorized as producing adult material. This categorization could impact their tax obligations severely. Tax professionals like Katherine Studley, who represents numerous OnlyFans creators, have voiced concerns over how seemingly innocent channels focused on cooking or yoga could fall victim to this vague classification.
Potential IRS Exploitation and Constitutional Issues
Financial planner Jessica Goedtel, whose clientele includes sex workers, emphasized the risks of IRS exploitation due to the undefined nature of these rules. Moreover, there are arising constitutional questions about the enforceability and fairness of these regulations. Creators, such as yoga instructors who produce non-explicit exercise videos, now must contend with the fear of their content being misclassified as pornographic, potentially leading to significant legal challenges, including back taxes and penalties.
Creators' Response and OnlyFans' Business Model at Risk
The looming risk of misclassification and subsequent audits has led some creators to consider abandoning OnlyFans to steer clear of potential financial liabilities, reflecting the serious repercussions of the legislation on the platform's business model. OnlyFans significantly relies on non-adult content creators who view the platform as a legitimate income source. This model is now threatened by legislative confusion, jeopardizing the livelihoods of millions of creators.
Urgent Need for Legislative Clarity
The situation highlights an urgent need for legislative clarity to ensure that diverse content creators on OnlyFans are not unjustly penalized under vague provisions that were ostensibly designed to exclude only clearly defined adult content from tax relief benefits. Prompt resolution to these legislative ambiguities is crucial to maintaining the platform’s role as a viable and diverse content ecosystem.
