The site says it is assisting police and has since updated its age-verification system to “further reduce the chance” of this happening again. “I don’t understand why people are paying so much money for this,” she told the BBC. There is a range of content on the site but it is best known for pornography, and requires users to be over 18.
Childline counsellors have come across a number of cases in which under-18s, some of whom are vulnerable, reference their use of OnlyFans. The deputy head asked to be anonymous to protect the identities of the children. In its response, OnlyFans says all active subscriptions would now be refunded. It said it is now liaising with the police, but had not previously been contacted about the account.
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Remembering Self-CareI’m also curious, how have you been doing since this person shared all this with you? There is no expected response or feeling after something like this – it affects everyone differently. Many people choose to move forward and take care of themselves no matter what the other person chooses. So, I do hope that you have the support of a friend, family member, faith leader, or even your own therapist.
Sexual predators taking advantage of lonely children
Leah, 17, was able to set up an account using a fake driving licence and sell explicit videos. OnlyFans was a big winner during the pandemic, exploding in popularity as much of the world was housebound. The social media platform has grown nearly 10-fold since 2019, and now has child porn more than 120 million users. The UK’s most senior police officer for child protection also says children are being “exploited” on the platform. The goal is to increase the chances of users being exposed to advertisements.
- Even though this person is not putting their hands on a child, this is child sexual abuse and yes, it should be reported.
- In some images the location could not be determined as the image was very close up.
- “He was elated that they were making such an amazing amount of money for just having sex on camera for other people to watch,” says a woman who has known Aaron for many years.
- Such behavior takes place virtually, without physical contact between the child and the person seeking to exploit them.
Hoaxes and unverified content
If you or someone you know is concerned about their internet activity, seek the help of professionals who specialize in this area. Unlike physical abuse which leaves visible scars, the digital nature of child sexual abuse material means victims are constantly re-traumatised every time their content is seen. Once inside, they can find vast criminals networks, including those peddling child sexual abuse material on a massive scale, Mistri adds. Up to 3,096 internet domains with child sexual abuse materials were blocked in 2024 amid Globe’s #MakeItSafePH campaign.