On its website, FetLife defines itself since, “Like Facebook, but run by kinksters me. as you and” FetLife distinguishes it self from rivals by emphasizing it self being a social networking in the place of a site that is dating. FetLife isn’t aimed at any specific intimate orientation or sex; many people are welcome. It offers over 5 million individual records.

Throughout the summer time of 2016, Fetlife changed its account policies. Whilst it was erroneously thought the web site would be invite-only, Fetlife administrators included a choice to confirm a free account with an anonymous text as an option to getting an invite from a member that is existing.

History

FetLife premiered in January 2008 by John Baku, an application engineer in Montreal, Quebec. Annoyed by efforts to locate ladies who had exactly the same interests that are sexual he did, Baku created a webpage in 2007 called “FriendsWithFetishes”. While focusing on launch 2.0 of FriendsWithFetishes, Baku chose to introduce it as a split website and called it FetLife. James Golick served as Chief Technology Officer from 2008-2012.

In July 2016, the internet site ended up being made invite-only. The system that is new presently in change even though this is certainly ongoing, your website administrators offered invites to Fetlife Supporters first. Supporters are people whom taken care of premium features; the majority of the web site it self is free and spending cash is not necessary. Your website management claims they will certainly expand privileges that are invite unpaid members, in good standing, when they find out the formulas and rule them.

A few weeks after Fetlife made the system that is invite-only had been a unique system included.

The brand new system works as mentioned because of the creator John Baku,

“Very comparable to what a number of the bigger email and texting platforms are doing. Web web internet internet Sites and solutions such as GMail, Yahoo Mail, Hotmail, WhatsApp, and many other.

“Will every person feel comfortable confirming themselves using a one-time text message that is anonymous. Not really… similar to not everybody seems comfortable sharing their current email address with us.”

Features

Within the past any user could produce a bunch dedicated to whatever fetish they choose. But at the time of January 2017, Fetlife has turn off the capacity to produce groups that are new. During the exact same time they removed a huge selection of current teams, including any such thing because of the terms bloodstream, needles, rape and incest.

You will find numerous of teams, on just about any topic that is legal. (as a result of limitations from credit card processors, some subjects aren’t permitted.) Any individual may join any group, even though team owner can ban users that are problematic. Group account is needed to publish or respond to articles. Users can allow e-mail notification of articles in teams these are typically users of.

All members that are new by standard signed up for the group Fetlife notices, which includes (at the time of 2016) over 4,500,000 users. There are lots of groups devoted to answering thematic concerns, such as “Ask a Submissive”, “Ask a Mistress”, “Ask a Dominant”, “Ask a Stripper”, an such like. Teams could be sought out by terms into the team name.

In addition, there clearly was a separate “directory” of fetishes which a part may suggest his / her desire for. Any user can make a fetish that is new.

Any user can publish a meeting with date, location, price, gown rule, as well as other information.

Location could be hidden and only unveiled separately by the occasion owner to individuals. Users, for A event’s page, can suggest which they “will attend” or “might attend”.

All users have profile that is personal. A part might have numerous pages. an age and location needs to be published, but sincerity isn’t needed; there are numerous users whom specify they’ve been in “Antarctica”, and several whom give what their age is as 93. You can find 12 feasible “sexual orientation” choices, plus “Not relevant” and over 60 “role” choices. The teams the user belongs to plus the fetishes the member is “into” or “curious about” are shown within the profile. Beyond this, the user may compose text that is immediately published on their profile, without any limitation on size. All pages are by standard noticeable to all known people, though a part can block another user.

Users can suggest they are “Friends” with another user, and therefore accept notification regarding the Friend’s task (as an example, which groups the Friend joins and exactly what articles they generate). Verification through the proposed buddy is necessary; relationship is often reciprocal.

People also can suggest they are in one or higher relationships. a split menu enables an user to point more particularly any D/s (Dominant/submissive) relationships they might be in. Both optionally let the user to specify somebody on the buddies list.

Users can trade messages that are private just about any user. a restricted talk function has (2013) been implemented. You can only speak to Friends. Nonetheless, at the time of 2016 the talk function happens to be eliminated when it comes to future that is foreseeable.

Each user can upload writings (log entries, erotica, and records), photographs, and videos. Posting of photographs or videos perhaps maybe maybe perhaps not taken by the user him- or by by by herself just isn’t allowed, unless these are generally pictures or videos for the user. While account is free, videos can simply be considered by those who find themselves monetary supporters. Those that make a economic share get an “I help FetLife” badge on their Profile.

Any user may discuss another member’s written piece, picture, or video clip.

Commentary are general public , and cannot be changed or deleted after publishing.

The search function is intentionally restricted to avoid users from finding users with certain traits, such as for instance gender or age. Additionally, writings is not searched by subject or keyword; they’re only available via the page that is author’s profile.

Users are encouraged to report unlawful content since well as terms of good use violations towards the administrators of FetLife.