OnlyFans creators criticize Meta’s Muse for allowing explicit AI interactions while restricting adult creators

Adult content creators on OnlyFans and similar platforms report persistent challenges in maintaining visibility on Meta’s social media services, including Instagram, where accounts are frequently restricted or hidden from public view. These creators argue that their ability to promote their work is disproportionately limited compared to Meta’s AI agent, Muse, which is permitted to engage in explicit adult conversations within an adults-only environment.

Meta spokesperson Tracy Clayton stated that the company does not block ‘legal adult behavior’ in the Muse app, which is restricted to users 18 and older. Muse functions as an always-on AI agent capable of proactive tasks, such as managing calendars and emails, while also enabling text-based explicit interactions. The app’s rapid adoption was facilitated by Meta’s large distribution network, including Instagram and Facebook, which helped it reach millions of users in its first month.

OnlyFans creators interviewed by WIRED expressed frustration over what they perceive as unequal treatment. Vanniall, a New York City-based creator with over 100,000 Instagram followers, noted that her account is currently restricted and requires login to view, despite her efforts to comply with platform guidelines. She criticized Meta’s decision to monetize explicit interactions with AI while restricting human creators: ‘It’s not fair that they get to pull money out of people with their sexually active AI agent, but they won’t let real people, real adults, engage in any sort of sensuality or sexuality.’

Jiz Lee, an OnlyFans creator and advocate for queer and trans performers, highlighted the disproportionate impact of moderation policies on marginalized creators. Lee pointed to FOSTA-SESTA, a 2018 law that altered Section 230 protections and led many platforms to censor adult content preemptively. ‘If sex work was decriminalized, then a lot of these issues wouldn’t be happening,’ Lee argued, while also raising concerns about how Muse was trained and whether data contributors were compensated.

Tony Genius, another OnlyFans creator and adult film performer, suggested that AI tools could coexist with human creators but emphasized the need for clear boundaries. He noted that while AI can assist with marketing tasks, such as automating video clips, the potential for fully AI-generated porn to displace human performers remains a concern. Genius also questioned why Meta offers an adults-only AI app like Muse but does not create additional adults-only spaces for human creators, proposing a hypothetical platform like ‘Instacam.’

The debate extends to the broader implications of AI in the adult entertainment industry. Creators like Genius are exploring ways to collaborate with tech companies to develop AI versions of themselves for fan interactions, aiming to preserve their livelihoods in an evolving market. However, Vanniall urged caution, advising users to avoid engaging with Meta’s Muse due to privacy and data concerns: ‘Stop downloading that app. You do not need to give Meta any more money or any more of your personal information. They have enough.’