Is it really more widespread at this point in history than any other? Or just easier to measure the market size?
I wouldn’t lament that sex work being safe and profitable is bad for society. But I also don’t think OnlyFans is significantly inducing demand, and I wouldn’t describe this as “taking” money from lonely men, it seems like a fair economic exchange to me.
I don’t have the hard numbers but I think staying single, being alone (and lonely), are huge and growing issues in modern society.
The internet providing easy & cheap access to dopamine as a coping mechanism is probably better than increasing alcohol or drug use, but certainly isn’t a “good” thing. All of them of course have the potential for addictive and compulsive use.
I don’t see a problem with commoditizing sex when it’s outside the scope of a committed relationship. Not all sex is about meeting an emotional need, and that’s perfectly fine as long as it’s safe and consensual.
Young men are certainly being failed in many ways and seem to be quite lost in the culture wars. My unscientific opinion is that this is compounded by the many environmental toxins pushing down T levels, modern K-12 educational pedagogy catering heavily to girls, and societal change around masculinity and the increasing impossibility of celebrating male gender roles.