As Halloween approaches, many OnlyFans creators may be considering costumes for their content: vampires, zombies, and other classic horror characters. But there is one critical warning they should heed: including blood, even fake blood, in videos or images on the platform is not allowed. The consequences of violating this policy can be significant and may result in account suspension or even legal consequences.
But why does this restriction exist, especially when it seems related to something as innocuous as a Halloween costume? The answer lies not in OnlyFans’ policies themselves, but in a broader legal context rooted in US law.
The Legal Basis: Obscenity Laws and the Miller Test
The ban on content involving blood on OnlyFans is tied to federal obscenity laws. These laws distinguish between legal pornography and what is considered “obscene,” a category of content that is not protected under the First Amendment and may be subject to legal regulation. The definition of obscenity in the United States is based on a legal standard known as the Miller testthat the Supreme Court established in the landmark 1973 case Miller vs. California.
According to the Miller testmaterial is considered obscene if:
- The average personusing contemporary community standards, finds that the content appeals to lustful interests (an excessive focus on sexual matters).
- The content depicts or describesin a patently offensive manner, sexual conduct or excretory functions as defined by applicable state law.
- The content, taken as a wholelacks serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value.
The purpose of this definition is to protect freedom of expression while regulating material deemed harmful or inappropriate for public consumption. As a result, platforms like OnlyFans, which operate under U.S. jurisdiction, must adhere to these federal standards even though their primary focus is on adult entertainment.
Why blood is considered problematic
Blood, even if depicted for artistic or thematic reasons, falls under a sensitive area of regulation. It can be perceived as obsceneespecially if it is related to sexual content, violence or self-harm. That’s why OnlyFans enforces strict keyword bans, preventing the use of terms like “blood,” “bleeding,” “murder,” “violation,” and “violence” in posts, descriptions, or tags. This is consistent with federal law, which requires digital platforms to actively moderate and remove obscene content to remain compliant.
While some users may argue that images of blood can be used artistically or in the spirit of Halloween, the broad application of the obscenity standard means that it is simply safer for OnlyFans to ban such images outright. Other platforms also have similar policies, emphasizing that this restriction is not unique to OnlyFans but is a legal requirement that applies across the digital landscape.
The difference between pornography and obscenity
It is critical to understand the distinction between what is legal pornography and what is considered obscene. While adult content is legal and protected under the First Amendment, obscenity is not. This legal boundary is often misunderstood, leading to confusion among content creators. The presence of blood, especially when combined with sexual themes, can cross this line into what is considered obscene. That’s why platforms like OnlyFans take a zero-tolerance approach to this matter.
Legal risks for content creators
Content creators on OnlyFans and similar platforms bear the legal responsibility of knowing what is allowed and what is not. As the saying goes, “Ignorance of the law is no excuse.” Violating obscenity laws can lead not only to loss of access to the platform, but also to serious legal consequences, including criminal prosecution. This makes it all the more important for creators to familiarize themselves with the platform’s community guidelines and understand the legal differences involved.
As an OnlyFans spokesperson highlighted in an official statement: “We enforce these rules not only to comply with federal law, but to ensure a safe and lawful environment for all users. Content creators must be aware of the legal boundaries of adult content to protect both themselves and the platform.”
Since Halloween festivities inspire creative costumes and themes, OnlyFans users should exercise caution and avoid using blood (real or fake) in their content. The rules surrounding obscenity may seem complicated, but the legal stakes are clear. OnlyFans, like other platforms, simply follows federal regulations, and content creators must do the same to avoid serious consequences.
