A woman in the Philippines has shared the harsh reality of working as a low-paid OnlyFans “chatter,” earning less than $2 an hour while pretending to be high-earning creators in online chats.
OnlyFans connects creators of adult content with subscribers who pay for access to photos, videos, and messages. While top creators earn millions, much of the interaction with fans is done by low-paid workers employed by third-party agencies.
A union representing chatters has raised concerns about the largely unregulated nature of this type of online work. OnlyFans, which earned $7.2bn (£5.3bn) in 2024, declined to comment. Its terms of service state that OnlyFans has a business relationship only with the content creator.
Life as a Chatter
The BBC is not naming the woman to protect her identity. She worked for an agency representing a popular creator, taking the job to support her family during a period of lower income. She worked 8-hour shifts, five days a week, earning under $2 per hour.
Her role was to chat with fans and sell photos and videos on behalf of the model. She was expected to generate hundreds of dollars in sales during her shifts.
Even though she knew the work involved explicit content, she described the experience as unpleasant. “It’s kind of icky,” she said, especially when managing multiple fans at once.
The work felt emotionally heavy. Many fans seemed lonely, making her role feel “heartbreaking” as she wasn’t the person she appeared to be online.
“It feels like I’m technically scamming them,” she admitted. “I’m sending photos and videos just to make the sale.”
Challenges and Exploitation
Some fans requested unusual fetishes, which could be difficult to handle. “There are days where I feel like, ‘what the hell am I doing here?’” she said.
She described the under $2-per-hour pay as “not my finest hour” and said the work made her question her morality and conscience. “It’s really not pleasant… and heart-breaking, especially knowing the agency is making way more than I am,” she added.
Legal cases have arisen against OnlyFans and agencies employing chatters, alleging deceptive practices. So far, none of these cases have succeeded.
Despite the booming business on the platform, the story of low-paid workers exposes the hidden exploitation behind the OnlyFans economy.
