The role of the Internet nowadays is really substantial, as it extends to all major areas of – well, everything. The politics, climate changes, the latest trends, celebrities, you name it, are all getting their space online where they’re fiercely discussed, loved, hated, promoted and more. On the other hand, the Internet also gave an opportunity to vulnerable groups of people such as disabled singles or transgender people to get connected online in form of various support groups, dating sites, specialized social networks and so on and so forth. Sexual subcultures have also got a deserving visibility online themselves, so it seems that with the rise of the Internet the world of BDSM finally got an opportunity to gain more followers or convert BDSM curious peeps into the true supporters of the lifestyle. How did this happen exactly? Well, we’re about to find out.
BDSM gets Online Exposure
Do you want to know how BDSM got its time on the big screen? Yes, we’re speaking of controversial 50 Shades of Grey. You see, the fun fact about the 50 Shades of Grey author, E.L. James, is that she first started on the Internet, by writing fan-fiction erotica about Bella and Edward from once enormously popular Twilight saga, which she regularly published on her blog. Later, when she figured it out the time was right (and when she gathered enough followers and fans for that matter) she decided to publish 50 Shades of Grey, a BDSM/romantic novel, which was followed by two other sequels, Fifty Shades: Darker, and Fifty Shades: Freed that all got their movie adaptations with the latest installment being set to release on February 9, 2018. And while some members of BDSM community certainly believe there’s no such thing as bad publicity, others frown upon these novels/movies because they don’t believe these accurately portray a good BDSM relationship. Either way, the movies, and novels were heavily promoted, and it also included online advertising which certainly enticed many people to show interest in BDSM as a whole.
BDSM Dating Sites
The Internet brought the evolution of dating, by taking the initial idea of meeting like-minded people online and branching it out into specific dating niches that are sometimes considered taboo by standards that society imposed on us. BDSM dating sites definitely fall into the category, since these allow BDSM lovers to find other singles who are into same stuff, or to find a partner for a specific sex play, i.e a slave can look out for a master.
These dating sites changed the world of BDSM in the way that people can now look for what they really want from a partner in a relatively discreet manner. Because, let’s face it – even to this day, there aren’t so many BDSM clubs that allow you to go ahead and spill out all your secret desires, especially in small towns and rural environments. On the other hand, many people are actually trying to keep their personal preferences – personal, so this is really not an option for them. BDSM dating websites, on the other hand, are a great way to start off discreetly and then slowly progress toward meeting a potential BDSM partner in a real life.
BDSM Forums
An online forum is another Internet’s progeny that is a tad different than a dating site. Namely, dating sites are all about less talk and more concrete actions, regardless of whether we’re talking about cam sessions, sexy talks, hot chats etc. Forums, on the other hand, are awesome places where a BDSM newbie, for instance, can ask dozens of questions before he/she finally decides to try their luck with BDSM in real life. The senior members are usually quite friendly and excited to share their experience and wisdom with less-experienced BDSMers in order to help them identify and realize what is it exactly they are looking for or what they can expect to encounter in real life.
BDSM Pornography
With the spread of the Internet, the BDSM porn, even though considered an underground niche, became available to everyone. A pornography of any kind is always a double-edged sword because it can contribute to the creation of fetishized and distorted images of certain non-mainstream sex lovers, BDSM fans included. Still, it can be a valuable tool for getting familiar with some of the most common BDSM sex practices and thus some sort of a guide to all BDSM curious people. You should, however, keep in mind that pornography usually clings to fantasy and that not everything you see there is a realistic representation of what’s going on in real life.
