OnlyFans is nearly 10 years old — here’s what that means for you

It’s 06:10, your kettle’s on, and your phone lights up with a notification you didn’t ask for: a stranger’s comment that’s not just rude, but confident—like they know you.

You close the app, open it again, and do that familiar scan: subscribers steady, tips uneven, customs quiet this week. In a couple of hours you’ll be on pool deck, whistle round your neck, teaching a kid how to float while their parent films from the side. And in between sets, you’ll be thinking the same thing you’ve probably thought a dozen times:

“How long has OnlyFans even been around—and is it actually stable enough for me to build on?”

I’m MaTitie, editor at Top10Fans. I’ve seen creators in the UK treat OnlyFans like a quick cash button, and I’ve seen others quietly build a resilient little media business that keeps paying long after the hype moved on. The difference often starts with one unsexy question: how old is the platform, really—and what does its history tell you about what happens next?

The simple answer (and why it matters)

OnlyFans was founded in 2016 in London by British entrepreneur Tim Stokely. So as of today (03 February 2026), OnlyFans has been around for about 9 years—and it’s heading towards its tenth anniversary.

That number isn’t trivia. Nine years is long enough for a platform to show its real personality:

• whether it can survive headlines and moral panic
• whether it can attract mainstream creators (not just one niche)
• whether it can keep paying out at scale
• whether it changes the rules suddenly—or gradually

And yes, whether it’s likely to still be paying your bills a year from now.

2016–2019: the “quiet years” creators rarely talk about

If you started hearing about OnlyFans during the pandemic, it can feel like it sprang out of nowhere. But 2016–2019 was the slow-build phase: a subscription product in a world obsessed with ad-driven social media.

Back then, the pitch was almost boring (in a good way): charge fans directly for access. For someone like you—digital entrepreneurship background, practical day job, and a skill-based identity (swim instructor) that translates into content—that model makes sense. It’s not reliant on viral luck. It’s built on repeat customers.

Those early years also shaped the platform’s reputation: adult creators adopted it quickly because it solved a real business problem—getting paid reliably for content. That early adoption still impacts you today, even if your content is lifestyle, fitness, and “pool girl energy” rather than explicit.

Here’s the part creators don’t say out loud: the platform being known for adult content doesn’t stop safe-for-work creators succeeding—what it changes is your strategy for trust. You end up doing more expectation-setting, more boundary-setting, and more community-building. Not because you owe anyone that—because it protects your mental energy.

2020–2021: the explosion (and why it still echoes)

Then came the period most people remember: the pandemic era. OnlyFans “exploded” into mainstream conversation and creator group chats. People who’d never paid for content started paying. People who’d never posted content started posting.

If you’ve ever felt that anxious pressure—“I’m late; everyone already did this; I missed the moment”—I want to put that to bed. Platforms don’t just have one moment. They have waves. The real question is: what wave are you choosing to ride?

Also, around this time, the business structure became a bigger part of the story. A majority stake ended up under Fenix International, led by Leonid Radvinsky (a name creators often hear only when money headlines hit). This matters because it signals the platform isn’t a casual app anymore; it’s a serious cash-generating machine with owners who make decisions like owners.

You don’t need to be obsessed with the corporate side, but you do need to respect one thing: when a platform becomes that profitable, it also becomes more sensitive to reputation, regulation, and payment partners. That usually means more rules, more enforcement, and more pressure on creators to be “brand safe” in whatever way the platform defines that year.

2022–2024: scale, dividends, and the “mature platform” era

By 2024, public reporting around OnlyFans had hardened into numbers and scale. The platform wasn’t just a meme anymore; it was infrastructure.

Some widely reported stats for 2024 put OnlyFans at over four million creators and around 370 million registered users. That’s not a cosy creator club. That’s a global marketplace.

And the profitability has been loud: reporting has said the owner received $701 million in dividends in 2024. Whatever you feel about that, it tells you one practical thing: there is a lot of money moving through this platform. Which means:

• it’s not going to disappear quietly overnight, because it’s not a hobby business
• it’s going to keep evolving in ways that protect revenue
• it’s going to keep attracting press attention (good, bad, silly, unfair—everything)

For you, as someone balancing a “real world” job and online income, maturity is good. It suggests consistency. But maturity also means competition. You’re not competing with a few local creators; you’re competing with everyone’s highlight reel.

So the winning move isn’t “work harder” or “post more”. It’s positioning: making it obvious why someone should subscribe to you, specifically, and what they can reliably expect.

2025–2026: mainstream visibility (and why it triggers more judgement)

If you’ve been feeling like OnlyFans is everywhere again, you’re not imagining it. The platform shows up in sports, celebrity culture, and headlines that have nothing to do with creators’ actual work.

On 1 February 2026, Sporting News reported that Erica Wheeler became the first WNBA player to partner with OnlyFans, explicitly signalling that the partnership won’t be “salacious” content. That matters because it’s a very public example of what’s been happening for years: OnlyFans pushing further into mainstream creator categories—fitness, behind-the-scenes, training, lifestyle—while still being best known for adult content.

And on 2 February 2026, TMZ ran a piece linking a comic and an OnlyFans star at a big sports event. It’s gossip, sure—but it’s also a reminder: the platform has become pop culture shorthand. People will make assumptions quickly, and they won’t read your bio before they judge you.

That’s the part that hits you in the ribs when you’re already feeling fragile about comments.

So here’s the resilience piece I want you to take seriously: you cannot control the stereotype, but you can control the frame.

Your frame is what you repeat—consistently—until the right audience self-selects:

• “This is lifestyle and swim training energy.”
• “This page is for adults; my content is non-explicit.”
• “Respectful messages only; anything else gets blocked.”

That’s not defensive. That’s brand clarity.

“Is it too late?” A poolside scenario you’ll recognise

Let me paint a scene.

You’re wiping down goggles at the leisure centre, thinking about filming a short “post-shift reset” clip: stretch, quick snack, moisturiser, a bit of Caribbean warmth in a grey UK afternoon. It’s not groundbreaking. It’s you.

Then you hear it in your head: “Nobody’s going to pay for that. OnlyFans is saturated. OnlyFans is for porn. OnlyFans is nearly ten years old—surely the gold rush is done.”

Here’s the reality: OnlyFans being around for nine years is exactly why it can work for you now. The initial chaos has settled. Audiences understand subscriptions. People pay for consistency, personality, routine, and access. You don’t need to be the loudest; you need to be the clearest.

If you want a practical mental shift: stop competing with creators who are selling shock value. Compete with the version of you who disappears for three weeks because one nasty comment got under your skin.

The “sale talks” headline: what it could mean without scaring yourself

On 2 February 2026, Tech In Asia reported that OnlyFans is in talks to sell a majority stake to a US firm, with sources suggesting a valuation figure.

Creators tend to react to this in two unhelpful ways:

1. panic: “My income is about to vanish.”
2. fantasy: “Maybe the new owner will fix everything.”

A more grounded approach is: treat it as a signal to de-risk—not to run.

De-risking looks like everyday habits, not dramatic exits:

• You make sure your top fans can find you off-platform (a mailing list, a simple link hub, or at least a consistent handle).
• You keep a month of content ideas in notes so you’re not reliant on mood.
• You build products that aren’t only subscription-based (bundles, paid messages, limited drops), if that fits your boundaries.

If you ever want the simplest creator business principle: platforms can change. Your audience relationship is what you keep.

What OnlyFans’ age says about your long-term plan

Because it’s been around since 2016, OnlyFans has done something most platforms don’t: it proved that direct-to-fan payments can scale globally.

For you, that means you can think beyond “this month’s rent” (even if that’s the urgent motivator right now). You can build a calm, sustainable offer:

• A monthly subscription that feels like access to your world (routine, pool life, wellness, behind-the-scenes).
• Upsells that are optional and respectful (custom requests within your rules, a higher tier with extra check-ins, or themed weekly drops).
• Content that protects your identity as a swim instructor rather than undermining it.

And since you’re in the UK, your advantage is stability: you can create a consistent filming routine around your schedule (before work, after work, weekends), not an all-night grind that burns you out.

The stigma question (and a no-nonsense way to handle it)

You will keep seeing opinion pieces that talk about OnlyFans like it’s a moral failure rather than a business model. For example, on 2 February 2026, USA Today published an opinion article criticising the platform and what it represents.

I’m not linking that to validate it; I’m pointing it out because it’s part of the environment you’re operating in. And if you’re already anxious about negative comments, these narratives can seep into your brain even when you know better.

So here’s the boundary I recommend (and yes, it’s boring, and yes, it works):

• You don’t debate strangers in comments.
• You don’t write apology captions.
• You keep your “why” short and repeatable.

Something like: “I make lifestyle content for adults who enjoy my vibe. I’m consistent, professional, and I block disrespect.”

Then you move on. No TED Talk. No courtroom defence.

The real timeline that matters: your first 90 days

Creators ask me “how long has OnlyFans been around” because they’re trying to predict safety. But your income won’t be decided by the platform’s age as much as your first 90 days of clarity.

If your page is safe-for-work (or adjacent), the first 90 days are about training your audience:

• what you post
• when you post
• what you will not do
• how you handle messages
• what kind of community you are building

The more consistent you are, the less power random comments have. Not because you become emotionless—but because you stop letting strangers set your agenda.

A lot of creators make the mistake of “trying things” every week: new vibe, new pricing, new boundaries, new promises. That’s exhausting. It also invites boundary-pushers, because your rules feel negotiable.

If you want a steadier approach: pick a lane that matches your real life. You’re already a swim instructor. You already have a rhythm. Use it.

• “Pool week” content when your schedule is heavy.
• “Reset weekend” content when you have daylight and energy.
• “Barbados roots” touches when you want warmth and identity without oversharing.

This is how you grow without feeling like you’re performing a character.

A quick word on “I briefly joined OnlyFans”

I’ve heard variations of this a lot: someone joins, posts for a week or two, gets spooked by judgement or silence, then leaves. Sometimes they come back later and do brilliantly, because the second time they treat it like a business.

If you’ve ever had a “brief” run (or you’re tempted to dip in and out), here’s what I’d tell you directly:

OnlyFans rewards continuity more than brilliance.

You don’t need a perfect body, perfect camera, perfect script. You need a repeatable system that still functions on the days you feel tender.

That’s the emotional resilience piece nobody sells you, but it’s the difference between “I tried it” and “I built something”.

Where Top10Fans fits (lightly)

If you’re trying to build a calmer, more global audience—without feeling like you’re shouting into the void—join the Top10Fans global marketing network. It’s built for creators who want visibility without chaos, and it’s designed to support cross-border growth while you stay rooted in your day-to-day life in the UK.

📚 Further reading (from this week’s coverage)

If you want to see how OnlyFans is being discussed right now—business, mainstream partnerships, and pop culture—these are useful reference points.

🔸 OnlyFans in talks to sell majority stake to US firm: sources
🗞️ Source: Tech In Asia – 📅 2026-02-02
🔗 Read the article

🔸 Erica Wheeler becomes first WNBA player to partner with OnlyFans
🗞️ Source: Sporting News – 📅 2026-02-01
🔗 Read the article

🔸 Druski Hits Lakers-Knicks At MSG w/ OnlyFans Star Sky Bri
🗞️ Source: TMZ – 📅 2026-02-02
🔗 Read the article

📌 A quick disclaimer

This post blends publicly available information with a touch of AI assistance.
It’s for sharing and discussion only — not all details are officially verified.
If anything looks off, ping me and I’ll fix it.