
Consider Before Consuming
The Reality of Trafficking on OnlyFans
Jan 15, 2025
Megan Lundstrom, Director of the Resilience Fund at Polaris and founder of The Avery Center, dives into the complexities of trafficking on OnlyFans. She discusses how the platform's portrayal of empowerment often masks exploitation risks, revealing how traffickers prey on vulnerable individuals. Megan highlights the importance of consent and the dire need for better protections on such platforms. Additionally, she sheds light on the supportive role of the Resilience Fund in aiding survivors, emphasizing a systemic approach to combat these issues effectively.
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Quick takeaways
- The Resilience Fund at Polaris provides crucial financial assistance to trafficking survivors, significantly reducing their risk of resorting to exploitative work.
- OnlyFans raises complex concerns about consent and exploitation, as its minimal definition may expose creators to psychological abuse and trafficking risks.
Deep dives
The Role of the Resilience Fund
The Resilience Fund at Polaris serves as a crucial resource for survivors of trafficking, providing direct cash assistance to address significant financial gaps they often face. This program offers up to $500 a month for 18 months, aimed at establishing temporary stability for individuals recovering from exploitation. Evidence suggests that financial support directly reduces the need to resort to exploitative work, with a significant drop from 60% to 25% in respondents who felt forced to take such opportunities as a result of receiving the assistance. The initiative emphasizes trusting survivors to determine their own needs, ultimately highlighting economic stability as a key factor in preventing trafficking.