What happens when creators across mega social media platforms combine forces to create a stash of content from a weekend getaway?
A group of TikTokers and OnlyFans creators found out recently — and went quickly viral in the process. A bunch of internet stars and sex workers met up to create content together at a sprawling rented cabin in an undisclosed location in the U.S. over the weekend of Sept. 17. The crossover collab was dubbed #OrigamiCamp.
Organized by @hawkhatesyou and @the_gothbaby, Origami Camp brought together these creators on the heels of OnlyFans announcing its ban on sexually explicit content. The paid subscription platform was previously credited as an empowering space for sex workers to host content, so the company's decision incited outrage from both users and creators. Just days after this announcement, the site decided to reverse its ban in the end.
Following this backtrack, Origami Camp was an opportunity to connect with likeminded creators from both OnlyFans and TikTok.
"The purpose of the Origami Camp was to get some creators who know each other together to collab and make TikToks, plus any other content [we] were comfortable making since all of us are sex workers,” says Natasha Noel (@babygirlnoell), who took part in the event. Noel, like most of the creators at the event, uses both TikTok and OnlyFans.
"Origami" is a substitute for the word "orgy", says Luna (@lunababyy69), one of the participants in the camp (who would like to keep her full identity private out of safety concerns). The creators brought in the substitute word to avoid censorship online, she explains. "Origami camp was one last 'big collab' after news broke that OnlyFans wanting to rid the platform of creators like us," says Luna. "It was an absolute blast and such a beautiful group of people."
It's important to note that while OnlyFans reversed its decision, it's unclear if the decision will be permanent.
The getaway had the creators making a range of content for both TikTok and OnlyFans. The content from the weekend posted on OnlyFans is vastly NSFW. The videos from the Origami Camp group on TikTok, though, are primarily behind-the-scenes footage of the gathering: dance routines and classic TikTok challenges.
Tariq (@mykendoll) is another one of the creators who participated in the camp. He is also keeping his full identity private for the purposes of safety. "I had such a good time bonding and getting to know all the creators," he tells Mashable. "Everyone was so nice and there’s nothing better than getting to work with your friends."
Noel agrees, saying, "It felt great to meet some fellow creators that I've only ever seen online."
Videos under the hashtag have 24.5 million views on TikTok at the time of writing. Members of the Twitter-verse, too, appreciated the trend just as much as the creators appeared to enjoy it, with people posting about how #OrigamiCamp was the ultimate highlight on social media throughout the weekend. Talk about viral content.
"The group was honestly completely blown away and excited that we made such an impact on the internet over the weekend," says Noel. Luna expressed the same. "We did expect [Origami Camp] to get popular but definitely not at the level it has gone. We just kept watching it blow up in a matter of hours and there were thousands of stitches and duets, then came the articles, and we were all so shocked but ecstatic."
Origami Camp is a positive movement for sex workers looking for a welcome space, both physically and in the digital realm. OnlyFans has been flagged for becoming saturated with influencers and high-profile celebrities. The descent of these big names has impacted a once-safe space from sex workers who rely on the platform as a primary source of income (though OnlyFans has been criticised for taking 20 percent of revenue for years). It also made the platform a far more crowded one. With Origami Camp, it seems that these creators are carving out an empowering space of their own.
Luna also touched upon the importance of recognition, especially after OnlyFans dangled the possibility of taking away the livelihoods of sex workers on the platform.
"Our community deals with so much backlash from [both] regular people and platforms that will completely censor us. It was nice to finally get some recognition for the years of work we've put into our content," she says.
#OrigamiCamp is just the latest of the phenomenon of collaborator houses for platforms like TikTok and YouTube. Amongst the most publicized was "Hype House", the Los Angeles mansion that once had 19 TikTok creators (including Charli D’Amelio and Addison Rae) weaving in and out of the space, collaborating on digital content. The locale was home to a fair bit of controversy, too, but is allegedly still running. This was just one of the content houses that became a cornerstone of the wild world of influencers. YouTube collectives have been doing this for years too, with houses in West Hollywood and in other lux neighborhoods throughout LA.
The Origami Camp group's weekend home doesn’t appear to be a permanent residence for them, like other established collab houses. But though temporary, it allowed creators to both bond and concoct truly viral pieces of content all under the same roof, speaking to a burgeoning trend amongst digital natives.
It's more than just behind-the-scenes stuff. Content made about the content will always have a home, it seems.
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