TikTok Accused Of Promoting Sex Industry To Young Girls
UK And Australian Campaign Groups Allege Creators Use Coded Lifestyle Videos To Attract Young Audiences
TikTok is facing scrutiny after a report accused the social media platform of helping promote and normalise the online sex industry among young women and teenage girls through seemingly harmless lifestyle videos posted by popular OnlyFans creators.
The report, titled 'The TikTok to OnlyFans Pipeline: How TikTok Is Promoting, Normalising and Glamourising the Sex Industry', was jointly produced by UK-based Centre to End All Sexual Exploitation (CEASE) and Australian campaign group Collective Shout.
Based on a year-long investigation, the report alleges that OnlyFans performers use ordinary TikTok content, including makeup tutorials, shopping videos, skincare tips, baking sessions and pet videos, to attract audiences and direct them towards adult content on external platforms.
Researchers found that some creators allegedly use coded language, emojis and gestures to bypass TikTok's content moderation systems. Terms such as 'corn' are reportedly used instead of 'porn', while certain emoji combinations serve as indirect references to adult content.
The report also raised concerns about videos portraying the sale of sexual content as a pathway to wealth, financial independence and a glamorous lifestyle. Researchers warned that such portrayals could encourage young women to view the adult entertainment industry as an attractive career option.
It further questioned the role of TikTok's recommendation algorithm in exposing teenage users to such material, potentially normalising sexual self-exposure and online adult content.
The report challenged claims about the financial rewards of the industry, noting that although a small number of OnlyFans creators earn millions, the average annual earnings of its estimated five million creators are around USD 1,000.
The campaign groups called for stronger safeguards to protect children and young people from content that indirectly promotes pornography and sexual services.
TikTok has said it prohibits sexual content and uses technology to enforce its community guidelines. OnlyFans requires users to be at least 18 and undergo age and identity verification.