An exploration of fetish social networks and communities

TL;DR

This study analyzes FetLife, a large anonymous social network for BDSM and kink communities, revealing unique gender-based interaction patterns and structural properties that differ from conventional social networks.

Contribution

First comprehensive analysis of FetLife's user characteristics and network structure, highlighting distinctive social and sexual interaction patterns.

Findings

FetLife has over 500,000 users with complex gender interactions.

The network exhibits unique topological and structural properties.

Differences from conventional OSNs in community and interaction dynamics.

Abstract

Online Social Networks (OSNs) provide a venue for virtual interactions and relationships between individuals. In some communities, OSNs also facilitate arranging online meetings and relationships. FetLife, the worlds largest anonymous social network for the BDSM, fetish and kink communities, provides a unique example of an OSN that serves as an interaction space, community organizing tool, and sexual market. In this paper, we present a first look at the characteristics of European members of Fetlife, comprising 504,416 individual nodes with 1,912,196 connections. We looked at user characteristics in terms of gender, sexual orientation, and preferred role. We further examined the topological and structural properties of groups, as well as the type of interactions and relations between their members. Our results suggest there are important differences between the FetLife community and conventional OSNs. The network can be characterised by complex gender based interactions both from a sexual market and platonic viewpoint which point to a truly fascinating social network.