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New reference to another news piece describing confessed killer who used FetLife.com to communicate with victims.
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Returning references to disputed characterization of FetLife as a dating site, with mention of the fact that FetLife's own HTML code refers to itself as a "dating site" (no less than four times), FYI.
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'''FetLife''' is a [[social networking]] website that serves people interested in [[BDSM]], [[Sexual fetishism|fetishism]], and [[Kink (sexual)|kink]]. On its homepage, FetLife describes itself as, "Similar to [[Facebook]] and [[MySpace]] but run by kinksters like you and me." An account is required to view content, although since membership is free, the level of [[Internet privacy|privacy]] offered by the site is minimal. In practice, this means the site is not indexed by [[search engine]]s and, partly because of this, critics have argued that FetLife presents itself as being more private than it is.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://sexandthe405.com/fetlife-is-not-safe-for-users/|title=FetLife Is Not Safe For Users|first=Anaiis|last=Flox|work=Sex and the 405|date=2011-08-27|accessdate=2013-01-02}}</ref> FetLife distinguishes itself from competitors by emphasizing itself as a "community" rather than a "dating site".
'''FetLife''' is a [[social networking]] website that serves people interested in [[BDSM]], [[Sexual fetishism|fetishism]], and [[Kink (sexual)|kink]]. On its homepage, FetLife describes itself as, "Similar to [[Facebook]] and [[MySpace]] but run by kinksters like you and me." An account is required to view content, although since membership is free, the level of [[Internet privacy|privacy]] offered by the site is minimal. In practice, this means the site is not indexed by [[search engine]]s and, partly because of this, critics have argued that FetLife presents itself as being more private than it is.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://sexandthe405.com/fetlife-is-not-safe-for-users/|title=FetLife Is Not Safe For Users|first=Anaiis|last=Flox|work=Sex and the 405|date=2011-08-27|accessdate=2013-01-02}}</ref> FetLife distinguishes itself from competitors by emphasizing itself as a "community" rather than a "dating site" however, this characterization is disputed, including by FetLife's own home page, which tells search engines to list it as a "dating site" in its HTML code.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://gizmodo.com/5916440/should-online-dating-sites-prevent-users-from-naming-abusers|title=Should Online Dating Sites Prevent Users From Naming Abusers?|first=Molly|last=Oswaks|work=Gizmodo.com|date=June 7, 2012|accessdate=2013-01-02}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://jezebel.com/5958113/kink-community-tells-sexual-assault-victims-its-all-their-fault|title=Kink Community Tells Sexual Assault Victims It’s All Their Fault|first=Katie|last=J.M. Baker|work=[[Jezebel (website)|Jezebel]]|date=N


==History==
==History==

Revision as of 17:41, 7 May 2013

Fetlife
Type of businessSocial Networking
Type of site
Adult Social Networking
Available inEnglish
HeadquartersVancouver, Canada
ParentBitLove, Inc.
URLhttps://fetlife.com/
RegistrationRequired
Current statusActive
Written inRuby on Rails

FetLife is a social networking website that serves people interested in BDSM, fetishism, and kink. On its homepage, FetLife describes itself as, "Similar to Facebook and MySpace but run by kinksters like you and me." An account is required to view content, although since membership is free, the level of privacy offered by the site is minimal. In practice, this means the site is not indexed by search engines and, partly because of this, critics have argued that FetLife presents itself as being more private than it is.[1] FetLife distinguishes itself from competitors by emphasizing itself as a "community" rather than a "dating site" however, this characterization is disputed, including by FetLife's own home page, which tells search engines to list it as a "dating site" in its HTML code.[2]Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page). Frustrated by attempts to find women who had the same sexual interests as he did, Baku created a website in 2007 called “FriendsWithFetishes”. While working on release 2.0 of FriendsWithFetishes, Baku decided to launch it as a separate site and named it FetLife.[3]

In 2012, FetLife found itself at the center of a controversy regarding its policy that users pledge not to "make criminal accusations against another member in a public forum,"[4] which many of its users object to[5] on the basis that it prevents them from warning other users of alleged rapists, murderers,[6] and sexual predators who frequent the site.[7][8][9][10][11]

Features

Members may create a personal profile and list which fetishes they are "into" or are "curious about." The search feature is deliberately limited to prevent members from finding users with specific characteristics, such as age, sex, or location. Members can also upload pictures and videos, including sexually explicit ones often rejected by other sites. They can write journal entries (called Writings), and send and receive private messages (called Conversations) with other members. Users can create "fetishes" both for genuine and satirical purposes.

Groups on FetLife are subject categories in which users may start Discussions. Events are listings of in-person events such as conventions, workshops, parties, and meetings to which members can RSVP as going or maybe going. Members must join the particular group in order to comment on "Discussion" threads.

Members may report illegal content as well as terms of use violations to the administrators of FetLife.

Technology

FetLife runs on a custom nginx variant of the Ubuntu/Debian distribution of GNU/Linux; it was adapted from the brightbox version.[12]

References

  1. ^ Flox, Anaiis (2011-08-27). "FetLife Is Not Safe For Users". Sex and the 405. Retrieved 2013-01-02.
  2. ^ Oswaks, Molly (June 7, 2012). "Should Online Dating Sites Prevent Users From Naming Abusers?". Gizmodo.com. Retrieved 2013-01-02.
  3. ^ Baku, John (2008-01-10). "FetLife.com Launches - The First Social Network for Kinksters". Sexual Deviants Living In A Web 2.0 World. Retrieved 2013-01-02.
  4. ^ "Terms of Use". FetLife.com. October 10, 2012. Retrieved 2013-01-02.
  5. ^ Clark-Flory, Tracy (June 3, 2012). "A BDSM Blacklist". Salon. Retrieved 2013-01-02.
  6. ^ Haddadin, Jim (May 07, 2013). "Police eyeing records from online dating site, sex networks in Marriott case". MetroWest Daily News. Retrieved May 07, 2013. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  7. ^ White, Rachel (2012-11-16). "The Story of 'No': S&M Sex Clubs Sprout Up on Ivy Campuses, and Coercion Becomes an Issue". The New York Observer. Retrieved 2013-01-02.
  8. ^ Allen, Samantha (December 27, 2012). "$35g bail for murder suspect's girlfriend: Portsmouth woman charged with hindering probe into Lizzi Marriott's disappearance". Foster's Daily Democrat. Retrieved 2012-01-02.
  9. ^ Jeffrey, Tara (January 6, 2013). "Accused linked to disturbing online profiles". Sarnia Observer. Retrieved 2013-01-07.
  10. ^ Read, Max (January 30, 2013). "The Disturbing Fetish Images the Cannibal Cop's Lawyers Don't Want You to See". Gawker. Retrieved February 1, 2013.
  11. ^ Erdvig, Eric (March 10, 2013). "NYPD Cannibal Case Goes to Deliberation". The Hammill Post. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
  12. ^ nginx-fetlife on Github
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