Chinese authorities officially ban OnlyFans, calling it a threat to national culture.
China has formally banned the content subscription platform OnlyFans, calling it a “corrupt Western disease” and a direct threat to the nation’s moral values and cultural foundation.
Announced over the weekend by Chinese government officials, the ban marks a firm step in Beijing’s intensified efforts to block foreign platforms that it views as promoting values inconsistent with its political agenda and “core socialist values.”
Though OnlyFans was never legally accessible in mainland China, thousands of users had bypassed restrictions using VPNs and alternative payment systems. Authorities now say those loopholes are being sealed for good.
“This is about more than just explicit content. It’s about rejecting foreign ideologies that challenge state authority,” said one analyst familiar with China’s internet regulation trends.
The U.K.-based platform, known globally for enabling adult content creators to monetise their fanbases through direct subscriptions, has been a key player in the so-called creator economy. But Chinese officials argue that platforms like OnlyFans promote “moral decay,” selfishness, and individualism traits they believe are incompatible with national unity and traditional values.
In recent years, China has blocked or severely restricted platforms like Instagram, Reddit, Twitch, and even foreign video games and music. The state is sending a clear message: platforms that don’t align with Beijing’s cultural and political ideals will not be tolerated.
Despite the clampdown, many young, tech-savvy Chinese citizens still find ways to bypass the country’s expanding digital firewall. But with enforcement getting stricter and penalties rising, the space for unfiltered, global online expression in China continues to shrink.
“OnlyFans is just the latest target in a broader ideological battle,” added the analyst. “What we’re witnessing is a digital iron curtain solidifying by the day.”
As China doubles down on controlling its digital sphere, the global creator economy pushes forward without it.
