Patreon Updates: Supporting Adult Creators with Mastercard Compliance

The Impact of Mastercard Standards on Patreon Creators

The situation surrounding OnlyFans’ brief attempt to ban explicit content, which threatened the income of many creators, is still fresh in memory. Despite the reversal of that decision, evolving standards set by credit card companies, such as Mastercard, are now influencing how creators on platforms like Patreon can generate revenue online.

New Requirements for Adult Content Creators

As part of its quarterly Creator Policy Engagement Program (CPEP), Patreon announced it will introduce tools designed to assist adult content creators in complying with the updated Mastercard regulations. These standards, taking effect on October 1st, were a significant factor considered during OnlyFans’ initial proposed ban. Founder Tim Stokley, however, attributed the issue to banking concerns.

The upcoming Mastercard requirements center around obtaining consent documentation. This verifies that all individuals featured in adult content are of legal age (18+) and have willingly agreed to its distribution. Additionally, age and identity verification will be mandatory, requiring creators to submit government-issued identification.

Patreon’s Current Stance on NSFW Content

Patreon currently permits certain types of Not Safe For Work (NSFW) content behind paywalls. This includes depictions of real individuals in nude sexual contexts, animated or illustrated nudity and sexual acts, and audio content featuring simulated sexual interactions.

However, the platform explicitly prohibits pornographic material and the offering of “sexual services.”

A History of Deplatforming and Creator Concerns

The OnlyFans controversy represents the latest in a series of challenges faced by online sex workers, who have frequently experienced deplatforming. Patreon previously restricted NSFW content in 2017, responding to pressure from its payment processing partners.

While Patreon maintains that pornography was never permitted, its earlier guidelines were more lenient, offering greater flexibility for adult creators. Many relied on the platform as a primary source of income. This led to protests, similar to those seen with OnlyFans, when numerous sex workers had their accounts suspended.

Creator Feedback and Patreon’s Response

An open letter addressed to Patreon emphasized the platform’s past support for creators. It highlighted the importance of Patreon’s tools for building businesses and acknowledged the significant role of fan bases in supporting the platform’s growth.

Ongoing Development and Potential Crypto Integration

Patreon communicated to TechCrunch that the details outlined in its blog post are subject to change as the process evolves. A livestream event is scheduled for creators to discuss adult content policies and the potential introduction of creator coins, representing Patreon’s initial exploration into cryptocurrency.

Given the experimental nature of the CPEP program, it remains uncertain whether the platform will implement further safeguards for adult creators beyond the tools designed to meet Mastercard’s standards.

Patreon is dedicated to fostering strong creator relationships and developing policies that support their financial endeavors, as stated in a communication to TechCrunch. The platform emphasizes continuous dialogue with creators to ensure policies remain conducive to independent and sustainable income generation.

Update on Implementation Timeline

Updated September 27, 2021, 4:00 PM EST: Patreon has received further clarification from Mastercard. The new guidelines will only apply to content published after October 15th.