Chinese authorities have formally banned access to the subscription-based platform OnlyFans, branding the site a harmful influence they say threatens social values and public morality. The move comes as part of Beijing’s broader effort to tighten control over online content and curb what it views as “immoral Western influence” in the digital space.
Officials argue that OnlyFans, best known internationally for adult and sexually explicit content, promotes material and cultural values that are at odds with China’s traditional social standards and state policy. While the platform was never officially available in the country, some users had been able to access it through VPNs and third-party payment systems — loopholes Beijing now says it is closing.
State media and commentators aligned with the government have described the platform as emblematic of what they call “Western moral decay,” claiming it encourages pornography, materialism, and behaviour they consider incompatible with Chinese cultural norms.
The ban follows a series of regulatory actions targeting foreign and domestic digital platforms that Beijing views as contributing to social disruption. In recent years, Chinese regulators have cracked down on online pornography, influencer content, video games, and Western social media services deemed to conflict with what the state defines as “core socialist values.”
Chinese authorities say that these measures are aimed at protecting social stability, preserving cultural traditions, and shielding younger generations from what they consider harmful influences. Critics, however, argue that the expanded restrictions illustrate the government’s strict control over the internet and limit access to global digital services.
Despite the ban, some tech-savvy internet users continue to seek ways to circumvent restrictions, reflecting ongoing tensions between users’ desire for unfettered access and state efforts to control online content.
