Digital Labor and Sexual Capital on OnlyFans: Income, Mental Health, and Structural Vulnerabilities in Thai Society
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Abstract
This article presents an academic analysis of labor on the OnlyFans platform within the context of Thailand’s digital economy, focusing on three key dimensions: (1) income and economic security, (2) mental health and emotional labor, and (3) long-term social and career impacts. It critically examines the popular social idea of “Take Any Job, Escape Poverty” (“Don’t be picky, don’t be poor”) which continues to shape public perceptions of labor and occupational value in Thai society. Using the theoretical frameworks of platform labor, sexual capital theory, and the structure–agency debate, the study argues that work on OnlyFans, while appearing to be freely chosen, often stems from constrained structural conditions—economic precarity, platform algorithms, and cultural conservatism.
Findings reveal that although OnlyFans can provide significant short-term income, workers face high emotional, psychological, and social costs. Many content creators experience burnout, anxiety, and risks related to social stigma and privacy violations, while labor protection mechanisms within the digital economy remain insufficient.
This article proposes policy, social, and academic recommendations for constructing a more equitable system that upholds the dignity of digital workers, particularly those who rely on sexual capital as a livelihood strategy.
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