The notification blinked on my phone: “ManyVids Official: AI-Driven High Universal Income Coming Soon.” I choked on my coffee, staring at the screen like it was a cryptic prophecy. Had the porn site finally jumped the shark, or was this some elaborate performance art I wasn’t in on?
Something strange is indeed happening over at ManyVids, the subscription-based adult content platform. 404 Media broke the story that ManyVids’ official account has seemingly gone off the rails in the last six months, shifting from promoting creators to dropping bizarre manifestos about metaphysics, extraterrestrials, and ambitious (if baffling) plans for the adult entertainment world.
You can catch glimpses of this apparent descent into madness on their X account (before they went silent around October). The account posted a flowchart titled “Adult Industry 2.0,” mapping a journey from safe-for-work content to “NSFWx,” requiring viewers to be 21+. The problem? The whole concept appeared to be lifted straight from a ChatGPT response, offering no real strategy.
While the X account went dark, 404 Media discovered similar content continued on the ManyVids platform itself, specifically within the newsfeed accessible to creators and subscribers. There, the official account’s posts became increasingly strange. One proclaimed AI’s inevitable delivery of “High Universal Income.” Others explored angel numbers and chakras. Then there was the image of CEO Bella French in a spacesuit, shooting laser beams from her eyes.
Creator Concerns Over ManyVids’ New Direction
I spoke to a camgirl friend of mine who uses ManyVids, and she just laughed nervously. It’s hard to take a platform seriously when its official voice sounds like a chatbot after one too many hits from a vape pen.
According to 404 Media, ManyVids creators aren’t exactly thrilled with their apparent AI overlord. Some find the posts plain weird, others deem them inappropriate, making them feel like the platform doesn’t value its creators.
This has sparked questions about French’s true goals, fueled by changes in the language on her personal website. 404 Media pointed out that French’s website used to emphasize ManyVids’ commitment to empowering sex workers and protecting them from exploitation. That’s been replaced with a new mission statement: “to help one million people leave the adult industry and prevent new entrants.”
Is ManyVids actually trying to get people *out* of the porn industry?
The CEO’s stated desire to guide creators away from sex work reflects a moral judgment—precisely what the platform once promised its creators freedom from. Sex work, in its own way, is as much labor as any other profession. The shift feels like a betrayal.
Whether ManyVids’ new path is a genuine change of heart from French or simply the result of letting AI run wild remains unknown. But it clearly doesn’t sit right with creators who entrusted their content to the platform. It doesn’t look like ManyVids is acting in accordance with the new messaging either. While the CEO talks about preventing people from entering sex work, the platform is promoting bonuses to attract new creators.
What tools and platforms do creators use instead of ManyVids?
Many creators are diversifying across platforms like OnlyFans, Fansly, and Patreon to mitigate risk. Some are exploring decentralized, blockchain-based options to retain more control. Others use standard social media and payment services to engage their fans without an intermediary.
The Future of ManyVids: A Glitch in the Matrix?
I found it hard to ignore the irony: a platform built on sexual liberation now seemingly advocating for its end. It’s like a vegan butcher shop.
The situation raises some troubling questions about the future of content platforms. It’s hard to say when the pivot started at ManyVids. Either way, a once-trusted space is now awash in confusion and uncertainty.
Gizmodo reached out to ManyVids for comment, but did not receive a response at the time of publication.
How much does it cost to become a ManyVids creator?
Becoming a ManyVids creator is technically free, but success often requires investment in equipment (cameras, lighting), marketing, and potentially paid promotional tools within the platform. Expect to spend anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand euros to get started, depending on your ambition and content quality.
This feels like a canary in a coal mine for the broader creator economy. One platform’s “AI psychosis” could be a sign of things to come. Will other platforms succumb to similar pressures, or will creators find ways to reclaim control?