Patreon do be unfair sometimes
I think Patreon did that because the western payment companies like Visa, MasterCard and PayPal don't allow purchase of ANY NSFW content. That's also why you can't purchase a subscription on most porn website.
These is the crystallization of the 2020 Pornhub purge.
The
2020 Pornhub purge was a massive content and financial crackdown on the adult website
Pornhub, triggered by allegations of hosting
non-consensual and underage content. Here’s a breakdown of what happened:
1. The New York Times Investigation (Dec 2020)
- Journalist Nicholas Kristof published an article titled “The Children of Pornhub”, accusing the platform of allowing child exploitation, revenge porn, and non-consensual videos.
- The report detailed how victims struggled to get illegal videos removed and how Pornhub allegedly profited from such content.
2. Immediate Backlash
- Public outrage surged, with activists and lawmakers calling for stricter regulations on adult platforms.
- Companies like Visa, MasterCard, and Discover announced they would no longer process payments for Pornhub due to concerns over illegal content.
- PayPal had already banned Pornhub in 2019, forcing many creators to find alternative payment methods.
3. Pornhub’s Response: Mass Purge
To avoid further legal and financial consequences, Pornhub took drastic action:
- Removed millions of videos—all content not uploaded by verified users (models, studios, official accounts) was deleted.
- Banned downloads for non-premium users to prevent re-uploading of illegal content.
- Strengthened moderation policies and required stricter user verification.
4. Industry-Wide Impact
- This crackdown forced other adult platforms like OnlyFans, XVideos, and others to tighten their policies on user-uploaded content.
- Visa and MasterCard expanded their restrictions on NSFW transactions, leading to a broader payment crackdown across the adult industry.
- OnlyFans nearly banned adult content in 2021, citing financial pressure, before reversing the decision due to backlash.
5. Current Status
- Pornhub still operates but now only allows verified uploads.
- Payment options remain limited—many users and creators rely on crypto and third-party payment processors.
- Laws like FOSTA/SESTA continue to impact adult content online, increasing censorship and financial restrictions.
It was one of the biggest moments in online adult industry history, changing how NSFW content is moderated and monetized.
Western payment companies like Visa, MasterCard, and PayPal avoid processing payments for NSFW (Not Safe For Work) content due to a mix of
legal, financial, and reputational concerns. Here’s why:
1. Regulatory and Legal Risks
- Laws regarding adult content vary widely between countries and states. Some jurisdictions have strict regulations on what type of adult content can be sold, and payment processors don’t want to risk facilitating illegal transactions (e.g., underage content, non-consensual material, etc.).
- Compliance with anti-trafficking laws like the U.S. FOSTA/SESTA Act puts additional pressure on financial services to avoid adult content altogether.
2. Chargebacks and Fraud Risks
- NSFW content has a higher chargeback rate, meaning customers often request refunds or dispute transactions after purchasing. This makes it financially risky for processors.
- Fraud and identity theft are also more common in the adult industry, increasing the risk for payment providers.
3. Reputational Damage
- Large payment processors serve mainstream businesses and investors, many of whom don’t want to be associated with NSFW content.
- Credit card networks rely on bank partnerships, and many banks refuse to work with adult industry businesses due to moral, ethical, or PR concerns.
4. Pressure from Banks & Investors
- Many financial institutions, including major banks and investors, refuse to support NSFW transactions. Payment companies like Visa and MasterCard depend on these banks to facilitate payments, so they follow the same restrictions.
- Religious, conservative, and activist groups also lobby against financial services supporting adult content.
5. Past Scandals & Policy Changes
- In 2020, Pornhub lost Visa and MasterCard support after an investigation found unverified and illegal content on the platform. This pushed card companies to tighten restrictions across the industry.
- PayPal also pulled out of adult content payments in 2019, citing compliance issues.
Workarounds
Since mainstream payment processors don’t support NSFW transactions, many adult content platforms rely on:
- Cryptocurrency (Bitcoin, Ethereum, etc.)
- Alternative payment providers (e.g., Paxum, Epoch, Segpay)
- Gift cards and direct bank transfers
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