Back in December of 2021, Playboy launched its “Centerfold” fan platform. Playboy’s take on the fan platform-form frenzy aims to be the next iteration of the iconic brand’s “long history at the intersection of culture and sex.”
Performers among the platforms founding personalities include Ana Foxxx, Elsa Jean, Mia Malkova and Lana Rhoades. Further, so much juice has been placed on the platform’s Creative Director in Residence/Founding Creative Director, Cardi B. Yes, Cardi B is a huge amazing deal; and yes, it still irritates the shit out of me when our industry gets so excited about a mainstream celebrity, especially over the incredible members of our community. I digress.
Another member of the community who is an early adopter of Playboy’s Centerfold fan platform is cam model and cosplayer Catjira. The workload expectations for online content creators is extremely high in 2022. This includes layering in fan platform presence in addition to, for instance in Catjira’s case, a very rigorous cam and clips career — but, why?
Why fansites?
“I don’t want to lie and say I love fan subscription platforms more than anything,” Catjira explained. “To be honest, and I’ve been doing this for a while, I am still adjusting to the shift in adult work. I feel like years ago the most popular was camming, then it slowly drifted into videos and clips. Many of us web cammers found ways to intergrade clip making into our web cam business. It’s no question that the fan based subscription site has taken over as the most popular form of online sex work, so what prompted me was keeping up with the trends of where online sex work is going.”
Shifts in fan behavior seem to be indicative of shifts in fan psychology as well.
“I feel like many more people are open to paying for their porn and content now than ever before and it is thanks to the mainstream media fan subscription sites. It feels like almost every one is doing one. It’s been a hard adjustment for me though,” Catjira shared. “I have always been one that strives for quality, creativity and fantasy. I’ve spent thousands on cosplays, sets and camera equipment to achieve that, and now the majority of the audience is okay with a two minute phone clip.”
This then can impact creator psychology and workplace enjoyment. According to Catjira, “While you may think [fan satisfaction with less elaborate content] makes my life easier, I’ve found it challenging to enjoy what I am doing. After about three years being on a fan platform like OnlyFans, I’ve learned that I don’t need to keep up with the trends and what everyone else is doing. Quality over quantity still matters to me because it what makes me happy. I thrive better when I’m enjoying what I’m doing.”
Okay!!! pic.twitter.com/PQGRoLitzT
— Cats_Stray_Cat (@Cats_Stray_Cat) January 5, 2022
Why Centerfold?
Press material stated that Centerfold creators can offer personal content subscriptions, the ability to directly message with their fans and more. Further, “As the platform continues to expand, the roadmap includes highly sought features in merchandise design, production and distribution capabilities, digital content production, live streaming, blockchain integration and more.”
Honestly, this doesn’t sound any different from any of the other several fan platforms currently vying for their corner of the market, especially in terms of the current/pre-roadmap stage, which caused me to wonder why add this additional layer to one’s workload in the first place?
“I’ve known about Centerfold being in the works for a while since I have a close relationship with Playboy. Before I even decided to join, they had asked that I would give it a try, encouraging I stay on my other platforms [during this time],” Catjira said.
The key point soon emerged — longevity.
“Playboy is hands down the best company I’ve ever worked with. I trust their vision and direction,” Catjira shared. “In the 2021 OnlyFans scandal with OnlyFan’s threat to ban all pornographic content, so many different fan sites emerged trying to swoop in and collect us who were affected by the sudden threat of change. I really admired playboy for not being one of those and taking an incredibly thoughtful amount of time developing and launching their new platform Centerfold.”
Rather than get caught up in the frenzy or trends, Playboy is — in Catjira’s view — more of a slow burn. “Nothing [about Centerfold] has felt rushed or pushed to me. It feels welcoming and safe. I am anxiously anticipating the future of the site and seeing where it goes,” she explained.
Centerfold, however, is not unaware of current trends and emerging techology.
“I do see and get the vibe that a lot of web 3 audiences might emerge from this as well,” Catjira shared. “Playboy is has an enormous web 3, NFT and crypto community they’ve been strongly building. I see several rabbitar holders and artists on Centerfold, as well already as creators. This feels like a brand new era of sex in art that is forming on the internet. I definitely see Playboy helping shift and evolve these sex positive changes.”
A Brand Ambassador Speaks!
Full disclosure from Catjira: “I do have a relationship with Playboy already. I’ve been a brand ambassador, and I’ve done paid ads and promotion for some of their products. I am also a Playboy model for Playboy Plus. I have three professional sets currently for the company.”
I wondered then, as a creator that’s linked to Playboy professionally, if there was any larger advantage to deepening the work relationship in this manner.
“I do think this relationship helped me become a creator on the invite only site at the beginning,” she shared, which makes perfect sense. “I know that they are inviting and accepting even more creators now as the site develops. I’ve just started and I have little to no structure at all I am currently using it as a sort of social media site and testing all the features before I decide what direction I want to go with on it.”
“[H]aving a relationship definitely has an advantage because if I have a suggestion or something isn’t working properly on the site, I can let them know so it can be fixed and addressed for everyone,” she shared.
“Centerfold does not feel like the typical fan subscription site like I’m used to. There is literally a search engine on it to find creators and a discover page promoting various creators!” Catjira summed up, concluding that: “It feels like an adult Instagram where, if I post a tiddy, I’m not going to get banned.”
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Erika is a sex positive people watcher (and writer). Email her at erika@ynotcam.com.
