China Officially Bans OnlyFans in 2025, Calling the Platform a Threat to “Traditional Values”

China has formally prohibited access to the UK-based subscription platform OnlyFans as of July 2025, marking the latest step in Beijing’s sweeping campaign to tighten control over foreign digital influence and online adult content.

The nationwide block targets OnlyFans’ subscription-driven model, which is best known for explicit creator content but also hosts fitness, lifestyle, and instructional material. Despite its global popularity—drawing more than 300 million monthly visits—the platform is now fully inaccessible in mainland China, including through previously effective VPNs and third-party payment methods.

Although OnlyFans was never officially available due to China’s Great Firewall, users historically relied on circumvention tools to view or upload content. A short-lived period of direct access emerged in late 2024, but the 2025 ban permanently closes all remaining loopholes. Authorities have also strengthened detection systems to identify VPN traffic aimed at reaching the site.

Government officials denounced the platform as a representation of “Western moral decay,” framing it as incompatible with traditional Chinese values and social harmony. The decision reinforces China’s long-standing zero-tolerance approach to pornography, which remains illegal to produce or consume. Offenders face fines of up to CNY 15,000 and potential short-term imprisonment.

The OnlyFans ban fits into a broader tightening of China’s digital governance. Thousands of foreign websites—including Facebook, X, Google, Instagram, Reddit, and YouTube—remain inaccessible without circumvention tools. The Cyberspace Administration of China oversees all censorship efforts, requiring platforms to self-monitor using AI systems and human moderators. Domestic platforms like WeChat are continuously screened for prohibited content.

Entertainment and media are heavily regulated as well. Video games face strict time limits for minors and must undergo content approval to ensure alignment with state narratives. Imported films often undergo extensive edits to remove political or socially sensitive themes, particularly content that conflicts with China’s mandate for “positive energy” storytelling—content that promotes patriotism, optimism, and socialist values.

Crackdowns have also expanded into cultural representation. Since 2021, portrayals of “sissy men” have been banned from entertainment, while discussions related to feminism or LGBTQ+ topics face increasing restrictions.

The 2025 enforcement action builds on earlier “internet cleanup” campaigns from 2023 to 2024, during which authorities investigated major platforms for hosting explicit or foreign-influenced material. The OnlyFans ban now stands as a defining part of China’s ongoing mission to control digital culture and maintain what it views as social and moral stability.

Source:
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/07/china-is-latest-country-ban-onlyfans-xi-calls/