Have you ever asked yourself what is OnlyFans ? The platform now known as OnlyFans initially had a different goal. However, the pandemic in 2020 has changed this significantly. But what is OnlyFans today? And why has it become so popular? We want to show you how OnlyFans came about, how it works today and why it has become so popular despite the controversy.
What is OnlyFans?
OnlyFans is a platform on which various creative and exclusive content can be shared with interested parties. These subscribers pay a monthly fee to view their content. Their pictures and videos are not public here (only very rarely to attract potential subscribers) like on Instagram, Facebook or other sites. OnlyFans is generally similar to other social media sites, except that your followers pay a monthly subscription to see what content you post. This makes the content more exclusive and not accessible to everyone.
If you were to ask different people, “What is OnlyFans?” many will probably say that it’s a website/platform with adult content. Many are rather negative about this platform, others earn a high income from it, as fans pay to see your various media. But even though the platform is now very much associated with adult content, you can also be a fitness coach, chef and much more on it and earn money with it.
OnlyFans supports various industries such as fitness, music and art, which is where it started. Meanwhile, the growth in adult content is increasing.
It’s very easy to earn money on the platform through subscriptions, tips and pay-per-view content. And you alone have control over what content you post and how much you pay for your OnlyFans content.
How long has the OF platform been around?
OnlyFans was founded as an online platform in 2016. The founder is British Tim Stokely, and wanted to offer the opportunity to connect with fans exclusively and earn an income. Above all, he wanted to give content creators more control over the resulting revenue and bring them closer to their fans. This is where the name “OnlyFans” comes from.
This concept later caught the attention of Leonid Radvinsky, a Chicago-based internet entrepreneur. He had mostly experience in the adult entertainment industry and saw it for what OnlyFans is today. In 2018, he acquired a 75% stake in the company. He quickly recognized the potential, which far exceeded the vision at the beginning.
However, the platform only really became known with the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, as many people were looking for alternative ways to build an income and entertain others. As a result, the number of members “exploded” and awareness increased overnight.
It even attracted some well-known celebrities. Popular celebrities such as Tyga, Jordyn Woods, Blac Chyna, Cardi B and Bella Thorne joined the platform, bringing even more attention to the site. This not only increased the visibility of the platform but also shows that it is not just for normal people, as this is a place where celebrities can connect more closely with their fans without leaving the house.
This also led to OnlyFans gaining massive popularity and becoming very popular in the world of adult content. This was only possible because the flexible approach to monetization gives creators almost limitless decision-making power.
Meanwhile, OnlyFans gained worldwide attention, increasing the number of users to over 90 million by the end of 2020.
Here are some key facts about OnlyFans that highlight the platform’s major milestones
2016
OnlyFans was founded by Tim Stokely with the idea of offering creators a way to monetize content exclusively.
2018
Fenix International, the parent company of OnlyFans, is bought by Leonid Radvinsky, leading to further expansion of the platform.
2020
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, OnlyFans experienced an explosion in popularity. Many people are looking for ways to earn money online, and by the end of the year the platform had over 90 million registered users and 1 million content creators.
2021
Celebrities also joined the platform, further increasing its visibility. OnlyFans gains over 2 million content creators worldwide. Adult content was briefly banned, but then released again.
2022
OnlyFans net revenue increases from 375 million dollars in 2020 to an estimated 2.5 billion dollars in 2022.
2024
OnlyFans has reached an all-time high in revenue and continues to add more features for users. Since its launch, OnlyFans has paid more than 5 billion dollars to creators.
What is OnlyFans used for?
Originally, OnlyFans was intended to provide a platform between all types of creators and the buyers of their works. This meant that creators did not have to use expensive agencies that often exploit them. This gave creators more control over their content and allowed fans to support them directly through subscriptions and tipping.
However, since this “content” could be almost anything and from any field, it attracted many adult creators who transformed the platform into what it is today.
What do creators do on OnlyFans? Well, mainly now: selling nude and adult content
Created images, videos, behind-the-scenes insights from shoots and filming days and other exclusive media, which they sell to fans rather than the media. Personalized content can also be offered on this platform. In addition to OnlyFans, there are also many other platforms on which creators sell nude images.
On OnlyFans it is common for creators to chat and interact with their fans. This provides further income. The private chat option on OnlyFans makes it easier to get in touch with creators directly. You are also much more likely to receive a response from your artist than on other social media platforms.
Real-time chatting and going live has also become popular. This can generate tips and other income. During OnlyFans live streams, however, models can also share juicy content, answer followers’ questions and show interest in fans. this makes subscribers feel involved, which often leads to more tips and subscriptions.
What does OnlyFans look like?
OnlyFans is very simple and clearly structured so that everyone can quickly find what they are looking for. The straightforward layout is also similar to that of many other social media platforms. It won’t win any beauty awards, but it’s easy to navigate through the platform. When you log in, you’ll see a feed of posts from various artists you follow, with images, videos and updates.
On the right hand side, there are usually recommendations of different artists you might want to check out.
Each creator’s profile includes a description, subscription options and tabs for posts, news and tips. The user interface allows for easy navigation so fans and followers can browse content, interact with creators and manage their subscriptions with ease.
How much can you earn on OnlyFans?
How much a creator can earn on OnlyFans varies greatly and depends on various factors such as the area and the content offered. The number of followers also plays a role. Earnings can range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars per month.
According to OnlyFans, however, more than 100 earn more than 1 million per year. You can find out how to set up your OnlyFans account in our beginner’s guide and if you want to increase your income, you should read more about MagicAgency as OnlyFans Manager.
Why is OF controversial and negative in the media?
It was only when OnlyFans allowed adult content and it became known that you could make a lot of money on the platform that the platform came under fire. However, the platform is still open to all types of creators, but it has exploded in size due to the amount of adult content.
Even as celebrities such as Bella Thorne, Blac Chyna and Bhad Bhabie have joined the platform, it has led to backlash.
Bella Thorne, is one of the top earners on OnlyFans, earning up to 1 million dollars in one day. Of course, not all creators liked the fact that celebrities were moving to the platform, as followers naturally increased there and decreased for regular creators.
In 2021, a BBC investigation found that, unfortunately, minors were also able to bypass OnlyFans’ age verification system to post or view explicit content, which cast an additional negative light on the platform. As a result, OnlyFans had to significantly strengthen its security measures so that it is no longer so easy to circumvent.
Although the platform claims that the content is private and can only be seen by followers, there have already been many incidents of people taking screenshots, recording content or even hacking it.
Artists and content creators don’t always write with their fans. Many celebrities or big models have hired assistants or agencies to reply to their fans.
To cope with the flood of messages from fans, some also rely on OnlyFans AI and chatbots.
How much can you earn on OnlyFans?
How much a creator can earn on OnlyFans varies greatly and depends on various factors such as the area and the content offered. The number of followers also plays a role. Earnings can range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars per month.
According to OnlyFans, however, more than 100 earn more than 1 million per year. You can find out how to set up your OnlyFans account in our beginner’s guide and if you want to increase your income, you should read more about MagicAgency as OnlyFans Manager.
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