Do You Have an OnlyFans Addiction?

November 12, 2024 | By Kindbridge

OnlyFans has surpassed 210 million registered users with approximately 45% of these users coming from within the United States. To date, the platform has provided millions of individuals with a means to earn income by selling subscriptions to their adult-centric content to a growing user base. Meanwhile, most subscribers are able to enjoy OnlyFans in a responsible manner, using it as a supplement to traditional forms of adult entertainment. However, an increasing number of persons are finding that their time spent on OnlyFans has become problematic.

Unfortunately, the newness of the platform has left America without much in the way of reliable statistics regarding how many users have been negatively affected by it. What we can see, is how many people are searching for help regarding OnlyFans addiction, with up to 1000 individuals per month per U.S. state performing an online query for “OnlyFans addiction” in addition to semantic variations:

Source: Google Keyword Research

All of the life-altering issues that come with process addictions and compulsive behavior may be associated with problematic use of OnlyFans. And like with problem gambling, it seems debt is taking a toll on those who have developed a concerning relationship with the platform. Reuters recently launched an investigative report which delved into U.S. police files to reveal stories of household trauma and financial ruin associated with unhealthy use of OnlyFans. One file unveiled that a woman’s husband spent a whopping $135,000 on OnlyFans adult content creators, leading to a filing of bankruptcy and divorce. Stories of this nature are growing with each passing year since its 2016 inception.

Are you among the growing group of individuals who are struggling to abstain or limit usage of the newest adult content platform? Have your subscriptions and associated consumption habits already resulted in negative consequences in your life? Read ahead to learn more and reach out for help via the contacts provided at the conclusion.

What You Need to Know (and do) if You Suspect that You Have an Unhealthy Relationship with OnlyFans as a Subscriber

Is Your OnlyFans Addiction a Porn Problem?

While OnlyFans identifies sports and fitness training tips, modeling advice, and other industry insights as being among their growing warehouse of content, data shows that adult content compromises 98% of all video on the platform. So when someone seeks help for what they see as an OnlyFans addiction, they likely struggle with problematic porn consumption. Or at least some close variation of it.

If you suspect that this is the case for your particular situation, take note of the signs of problematic porn use that may directly align with your engagement on OnlyFans:

You have lied to your romantic partner about being a subscriber to OnlyFans.
You have expressed anger and defensiveness when asked to unsubscribe to OnlyFans.
You have lost romantic and/or sexual interest in your companion.
You spend excessive periods of time (hours or days) on the OnlyFans platform.
You are unable to stop engaging with content on OnlyFans after efforts have been made to pause it.
You have increased intensity or type of sexual content viewed and subscribed to on OnlyFans to get the same arousal and stimulation.
You lack interest in other activities (especially those you were once engaged in).
You use alcohol or drugs while engaged on the OnlyFans platform.
You have become detached from friends and family.
You exhibit feelings of shame after spending time on OnlyFans.
You compulsively masturbate (including at work and away from home).
You violate workplace policies regarding consumption of elicit materials (i.e. OnlyFans) when on-premises.
You have noticed increased feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression that have occurred with your uptick in OnlyFans engagement.
You solicit prostitutes to fulfill OnlyFans content creator fantasies.
You have developed unhealthy feelings towards the OnlyFans content creators you subscribe to (more on this below).

If you exhibit some combination of the above, intervention is required. Try out these alternatives to pornography (which apply here) and download our self help guide to overcoming porn addiction (which also applies) by clicking the banner below:

Concerned About Developing a Personal Connection to a Content Creator?

It may not be the sexually explicit content that you have developed a compulsion towards. Instead (or in addition) you may have developed unhealthy feelings towards the content creator/s themselves.

OnlyFans is significantly different from typical porn streaming and subscription services where content is widely available to the masses. For one, OnlyFans’ adult content creators are not your average porn star or starlet. The Washington Examiner reports that 2% of American women and 1% of American men aged 18 to 45 are earning income as adult content creators on OnlyFans. That’s nearly 2 million Americans! These are people who are also college students, baristas, restaurant servers, bank tellers, nurses, police officers, and professionals from a variety of occupations who are trying to earn extra income on the platform. It’s this average Jane or Joe persona that makes them seem more approachable as a prospect for romantic connection. Further, OnlyFans has a more personal touch in that content creators may interact with their fans/subscribers, take requests, and participate in chats. They generally have social media profiles that they use to promote their OnlyFans profile, and engage current and prospective fans on those platforms as well. Collectively, it all deepens the perceived “connection” between the content creator and the fan/subscriber which can be VERY problematic for vulnerable individuals.

Remember when people reported falling in love with their Peloton Instructors at the height of its popularity? It makes sense for there to be an even greater risk of developing unhealthy feelings for the person behind a sexually charged OnlyFans account. Someone who has developed strong feelings for their OnlyFans creator and assumes that there may be reciprocal connection is thinking irrationally. Further, they may behave irrationally and make life-altering decisions based upon their compromised thought processes. This can be an issue for those who are in committed relationships. Research shows that 89% of OnlyFans subscribers are married.

If you find that you are developing strong feelings for an OnlyFans content creator, and have come to realize that this is problematic, intervention is immediately required. If it goes unchecked, it could potentially lead to a pattern of repeated and unwanted attention directed at a given OnlyFans creator. From there, it may escalate to harassment, attempted personal contact, or any other course of conduct that is commonly attributed to stalking behavior. This is of particular concern for those who fit the risk profile. Treatments such as Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) are known to be effective in helping those who have already ventured into concerning territory.

We know that you’re concerned about your mental and behavioral health at the moment. But the good news, is that you’ve taken the initiative to learn more about what you consider to be an OnlyFans addiction.

Kindbridge is uniquely qualified to provide powerful and effective treatment for hypersexuality issues. In addition, we treat cooccurring concerns such as anxiety and depression that add a layer of complexity to what you may be experiencing. Let’s get to the bottom of what’s happening together. Reach out via the contacts provided below to get started.