OnlyFans says it's getting out of the hardcore-porn game

• OnlyFans says it plans to block some sexually explicit content later this year.
• The decision represents a major change for the startup that gained success in NSFW content.
• The company said some nude photos and videos would still be allowed on the site.

OnlyFans said it plans to block its users from posting sexually explicit content on its site.

The company said on Thursday that it would implement the new policy in October, Bloomberg first reported. The company told Insider it will share more on the policy in the coming days.

"In order to ensure the long-term sustainability of our platform, and to continue to host an inclusive community of creators and fans, we must evolve our content guidelines," the company said in a statement. "These changes are to comply with the requests of our banking partners and payout providers."

OnlyFans will still allow users to post nude photos and videos, so long as they do not violate OnlyFans' acceptable use policy, which bars users from posting illegal content, including footage of minors or content that is not their own.

The decision to ban sexually explicit content reflects a major branding change for the site that has gained much of its success from pornographic content. To date, the site hosts over 130 million users and has paid creators over $5 billion since it was created in 2016.

The decision could affect over 2 million creators who use the site, the company's numbers indicated. It's unknown exactly what share of creators make money solely from explicit content. The site has long been known as a source of income for sex workers, especially during the pandemic when many had to pivot from in-person roles.

In recent months, OnlyFans has faced difficulty drumming up investor interest, a report from Axios said. The decision to eliminate sexually explicit content could help the platform lure in investors who may be wary of the site's NSFW brand.

It's not the first time the platform has attempted to shift its image away from pornographic content to cater to more mainstream celebrities and creators as opposed to sex workers. On Tuesday, OnlyFans launched a free streaming service called OFTV, an on-demand site that focuses on topics such as fitness and cooking instead of sexually explicit content.