Since launching in 2016, OnlyFans has seen explosive growth as a platform for creators to engage fans with exclusive content on a subscription basis. However, serious concerns around exploitative/underage content and banking restrictions have more people considering permanently deleting their accounts.
In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll provide expert perspective on:
- Key Milestones in OnlyFans‘ Rapid Growth
- Recent Controversies and Account Closures
- Pros vs Cons: OnlyFans vs Other Platforms
- Step-by-Step Guidance: How to Delete Your OnlyFans Account
Let‘s start with some key historical context on OnlyFans‘ origins and rampant popularity over a short 5 year span.
The Rapid Rise of OnlyFans
OnlyFans founder Timothy Stokely tapped into the explosive popularity of influencers, creators, and fan interactions online when launching the platform in 2016. But OnlyFans didn‘t fully take off until 2018 when many adult entertainers flocked there after increased content restrictions on other platforms like Instagram and Tumblr.
The company‘s hands-off content moderation approach quickly made it the go-to home for pornographic images, videos and interactions. As evident in the surging creator and subscriber growth through 2021:
| Year | # of Creators | # of Subscribers |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 300,000 | 50 million |
| 2021 | 1 million | 120 million |
Sources project OnlyFans may top 300 million subscribers globally by 2025 if current growth rates persist. However, some troubling factors complicate that rosy outlook…
Underage Content & Banking Issues Lead to Backlash
Despite its creator-friendly policies, OnlyFans has come under intense scrutiny regarding underage users falsifying information to open accounts.
A June 2022 expose found over 100 underage users actively posting adult content in violation of OnlyFans‘ policies, leading some payment processors and investors to sever ties.
These restrictions resulted only this month in OnlyFans‘ announcement prohibiting sexually explicit content starting in October 2022.
While the company has since walked back that policy change, the pressure clearly mounts from all sides:
- Legal concerns over underage users continue
- Banking partners like Visa threatened restrictions over illegal content
- Investors may curb involvement in such a controversial platform
As a result, both long-time adult creators and casual OnlyFans subscribers have accelerated account deletions in 2022. But what happens when you decide to delete?
Before You Delete: Impact on Content, Subscriptions
Prior to deleting that OnlyFans account you want to fully understand what you‘ll lose in the process:
Creator Accounts
- All posted content – images, videos, messages – will be permanently erased
- You forfeit creator earnings and access to fan analytics
Fan/Subscriber Accounts
- You lose access to any subscribed creator accounts
- Pre-paid subscription fees will not be refunded
In most cases no recoverable backups exist of accounts or posted content after deletion. Act accordingly.
Now let‘s examine how OnlyFans as a platform stacks up against some growing alternative fan community platforms in 2022‘s increasingly cloudy landscape.
OnlyFans vs. Competitors: Key Pros and Cons
While OnlyFans continues to dominate the subscriber-based fan community market, viable competitors continue eating into their market share.
How does OnlyFans compare against top alternatives like Fansly, JustForFans, Fancentro and more on key metrics?
| Platform | Market Share | Fees | Content Allowed | Features | Ease of Use | Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OnlyFans | 70% | 20% cut + Fees | Most explicit allowed | Tiered content packages, text messaging fans | Poor filters/navigation | Responsive |
| Fansly | 20% | 10% cut + Fees | Extensive range | Extensive analytics, rewards programs | Intuitive UI | Strong knowledge base |
| JustForFans | 5% | 15% cut + Fees | Nearly all explicit content | Video sales emphasis | Improving | Limited hours |
| FanCentro | 2% | 15% cut + Fees | Allows adult material | Unique branding options | Mid-level | Email support average |
While OnlyFans remains the dominant industry force for now, smaller competitors like Fansly are rapidly capturing market share through more creator-friendly policies, streamlined interfaces, and proactive support.
Analyzing Usage: Who‘s Deleting OnlyFans Accounts and Why
In looking at recent OnlyFans search trends and reviews, we spot some patterns on why users may permanently delete accounts:
Creators Leaving the Industry:
- Adult entertainers concerned over legal risks or undervaluing of content/work
- Younger users regretful over early entry into adult industry
- Seeking distance from social stigma around sex work
Subscribers Deactivating Accounts:
- Frustration over high subscription costs, delayed posts
- Embarrassment related to usage being discovered by family/employers
- Dissatisfaction with impersonal, inauthentic creator interactions
Many younger users in particular report deleting accounts soon after sign-up once struggling to develop subscriber bases or realizing the steep learning curves in establishing adult industry careers online.
What Does the Future Hold for OnlyFans?
While controversies, restrictions, and growing competition all complicate OnlyFans‘ outlook, the concept of direct creator/fan monetization they pioneered continues gaining popularity across social media.
Established influencers, athletes, musicians and more build subscriber offerings daily on platforms like Snapchat, Twitter, and Facebook.
And as metaverse technologies enable more lifelike digital interactions, immersive fan experiences surelyexpand as well. $10 billion+ virtual reality adult industry by 2030 doesn‘t seem unfathomable given these trends.
OnlyFans itself hopes to mitigate risk factors by expanding content moderation and verification processes to welcome a wider range non-adult offerings on sports, cooking, music lessons and more.
If that pivot proves successful while maintaining their loyal adult creator ecosystem, OnlyFans may reinvent itself once again.
Step-by-Step: Deleting Your OnlyFans Account
If you still decide now is the time to move on, you can quickly delete that OnlyFans account in just a few steps:
On OnlyFans Website:
- Login at onlyfans.com
- Click Profile Picture > Settings
- Scroll Down to "Delete Account"
- Check Confirmation Box > Click "Delete"
On Mobile:
- Visit onlyfans.com in Browser
- Tap Profile > Settings
- Tap "Delete Account" at Bottom
- Check Confirm Deletion > Tap "Delete"
You‘ve now successfully deleted OnlyFans! I hope mapping out the company‘s history, analyzing usage patterns, weighing competing platforms, and ultimately guiding your account removal proved helpful knowledge during this pivotal time for OnlyFans. Please let me know if any other questions come up!
