PLAYING THE FEELD
I tried kinky sex app Feeld & within minutes I was bombarded with filthy requests – including one VERY indecent proposal
The platform is catering to a crowd that is after something a bit more upfront and exciting
“FANCY a threesome with me and my gorgeous wife?”
The cheeky message pings into my inbox — and is quickly followed by, “Do you prefer to be tied up or whipped?”.
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I have been on kinky dating app Feeld for less than 24 hours and have already been flooded with messages that would make Christian Grey blush.
Originally launched as group sex platform 3nder in 2014, the app rebranded as Feeld in 2018 following a lawsuit from Tinder. But it still felt like a niche space.
Six years on and Feeld has gone mainstream, with its revenue growing from £20.7million to £39.5million over the last year.
As a 37-year-old single mum who is tired of the “normal” dating scene, I am eager to see what all the fuss is about.
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So I download the app — but setting up my profile is a minefield.
What’s my gender? With more than 30 options to choose from, I feel a bit basic opting for “female”.
Next up is my sexual orientation. Despite being The Sun’s Sexpert and attending plenty of sex parties, some of the names stump me.
I scroll through options like “Objectumsexual” — someone who is attracted to objects — and wonder if they should perhaps be on a furniture app instead.
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Having chosen “straight” — and feeling like a total dinosaur — I move on to my “desires”.
Couples, Group, Threeways, FF (female on female), FFM (two females, one male), you name it, it is all there.
What is Feeld? The new dating app for 'the curious'
Then I have to list my kinks. Given options such as bondage, brat-taming, watching and GGG (good, giving and game), I find myself Googling more terms than I expected.
But it is a welcome change from the hiking-obsessed, eco-warrior types taking over traditional apps such as Tinder and Bumble.
I mean, I am less interested in the climate, and more my climax.
Cutting to the chase
On Feeld, it is refreshing to cut straight to the chase and know who is down for what, without all the guesswork and endless small talk.
It is clear the platform is catering to a crowd that is after something a bit more upfront and exciting.
And it appears to be working. While its profits are up, Bumble has seen its shares drop to a record low. And last year Tinder reported an 18.5 per cent year-on-year drop in US users.
Feeld works similarly to other dating apps — if you fancy someone, you “like” their profile. If the person “likes” you back you receive a notification saying, “Feelings are mutual, be bold and play nice”.
You can also ping users who have not liked you with direct messages.
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A few minutes after signing up, my first ping arrives — from “Lickyboy,” a 56-year-old man, who is 49km away.
He boldly proclaims that a “clean-shaven p*c is a must”. Well, a full head of hair is a must for me, so I politely decline.
Interestingly, while I have received plenty of unsolicited d* pics on Tinder, Feeld feels more of a respectful space.
The kink community is all about consent, and despite receiving more than 1,000 likes and dozens of pings in the space of 24 hours, I am yet to receive an unsolicited d*** pick. That’s progress, right?
Next, I match with Jim, whose bio says: “Switchie, witchie, Lionel Richie”. (A switch is someone who likes being both dominant and submissive between the sheets.)
“Your phone must be blowing up,” he writes. “I’ve only been on the app for two weeks, but I love how upfront everyone is here.”
He casually mentions that he has already had “two experiences” — one with a married woman and the other with a lesbian couple.
While I have received plenty of unsolicited d* pics on Tinder, Feeld feels more of a respectful space
One thing is for sure, there is no beating around the bush (pun intended) on this app. People dive, er, straight in.
“Lucky you!” I tell him, admiring his gym-honed body. Our conversation is interrupted by another ping, this time by a guy called Big Daddy.
It reads: “Big hands, big personality, big . . . not sure on the third but you can probably help.”
While Tinder has become known as a go-to for one-night stands (ONS), many of the men I’ve spoken to on Feeld are looking for a friends with benefits (FWB) arrangement.
“I have to have a vibe with someone,” Big Daddy tells me.
“ONS are rarely great sex, you have to have a connection. Regular sex with the same person, even if it’s casual, can be amazing.”
Feeld lets you select options for FWB or casual flings, which takes a lot of the guesswork (and heartache) out of dating.
Of course, I still encounter the cheesy chat-up lines you find on other dating apps.
One says: “Is that a mirror in your pocket? Because I can see myself in your pants.” Classic.
Sexy voice notes
But it is a message from Christian (yes, really), a handsome 38-year-old banker with piercing blue eyes, which really draws my attention.
With his chiselled jawline and six-pack, he could be on the cover of a fitness mag.
His profile is a blend of desires and hobbies. Being dominant, tick. High sex drive, double tick. Drinking champagne in hot tubs. Tick, tick, tick.
He does mention a love for the financial markets, but we will overlook that one.
As I scroll through his pictures, I am imagining him tying me up in his red room. And he has good chat and a cheeky sense of humour, too.
Before I know it, we have moved from Feeld to WhatsApp, and now he is sending me sexy voice notes in a deep, intellectual voice.
For now, I am going to play the Feeld
God, I really hope he is not a catfish with a fake profile.
Could he be my Christian Grey? Well, a girl can dream.
But I won’t put all my eggs in one basket as the first rule of the apps is to multi-date. So, I keep scrolling, liking the guys who pique my interest.
What I am really enjoying is the refreshing honesty in the profiles. And knowing if I am sexually compatible with someone from the get-go is a game-changer.
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There is nothing worse than meeting a hot guy, only to later discover they are a total flop between the sheets.
So for now, I am going to play the Feeld.
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