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Underpaid workers mimic OnlyFans creators in online chats
A woman in the Philippines has revealed the emotional toll of impersonating high-earning OnlyFans models for wages as low as $2 per hour. The practice, known as "chatting," involves third-party workers engaging with subscribers to drive sales of explicit content.
How the system works
OnlyFans connects creators of adult content with paying subscribers, who access material and private chats through monthly fees. While top creators reportedly earn millions, many outsource fan interactions to low-paid workers employed by agencies. These "chatters" pretend to be the models they represent, often under pressure to meet aggressive sales targets.
Exploitative pay and emotional strain
The woman interviewed by the BBC, whose identity remains protected, initially took the job to support her family during financial hardship. She earned less than $2 hourly during eight-hour shifts, five days a week, with quotas to generate hundreds of dollars in sales per shift. Even after switching agencies, her pay remained below $4 an hour.
"It's kind of icky when you think about it, because you'll have to do sexting a lot of times-several times in an hour-while talking to multiple fans at once."
She described the work as emotionally draining, particularly when fans appeared lonely or requested unusual fetishes. The deception weighed on her:
"Technically, I'm scamming them. I'm just after the sale."
Legal and ethical concerns
The use of chatters has sparked lawsuits from users and law firms alleging fraud, though none have succeeded. The woman also worried about legal risks under the Philippines' strict anti-pornography laws. Mylene Cabalona, president of the BPO Industry Employees' Network (BIEN), highlighted broader concerns about the unregulated nature of such work.
"Our main concern is workers' exposure to harmful content and the lack of clear guidelines on safety, accountability, and protection."
Mylene Cabalona, BIEN President
OnlyFans' stance and industry realities
OnlyFans, which reported $7.2 billion in 2024 revenue, declined to comment but states in its terms that it only contracts directly with content creators. Despite the risks, Cabalona noted that digital outsourcing jobs like chatting can offer higher pay than local alternatives and flexible remote work opportunities.
What's next?
As the gig economy expands, advocates urge stronger protections for vulnerable workers in unregulated online roles. The woman, reflecting on her experience, called the pay "not her finest hour" and questioned the morality of the work.
