Online BDSM communities and how to stay safe
Online BDSM communities are a great start once you have realized you are kinky and want to explore the world of BDSM. There are many resources and knowledge databases available that you can learn and understand the world on kink.
Let’s be honest though; nobody wants to read for years about kinks without testing the waters. You are not alone; we all want to dive in headfirst and find our Dom or sub. You, however, need to be careful as with any online community.
You are right to want to test the waters and see what is out there in the online world of kink, but as we all have limits and boundaries, you need to set the same boundaries for yourself when it comes to online BDSM communities.
Join a few communities and start lurking around the personals and forums; this way, you will get an idea of how these communities work; although there are many communities online, they all operate differently. Below I have listed a few suggestions on how to get started with online BDSM communities.
- Stay anonymous – Your username should not be able to link back to you; keep it fun and lighthearted. Don’t put a picture of your face on your profile or on any images you share. Do not share your social media handles, address, or your personal details.
- Moderators – Make sure that if you join online BDSM communities that there are moderators on the groups or forums, this way, you can report any harassing or creepy people to the moderators.
- Boundaries – Set your boundaries. Are you looking for an online connection or IRL? Are you willing to send nudes and videos? Do you only want to text, or do you want phone and video calls as well? Are you ready to give out your details?
- Meeting someone – If you find someone online, do you want to meet IRL? If you do, always make sure it is in a public place with people around, and always make sure a friend or family member knows where you are.
You can decide how you want to navigate the online world, but unfortunately, there are many creeps there lurk in online communities too. They, too, are anonymous with “great” profiles claiming to be the Daddy Dom you have always been looking for online. There usually are three outcomes with online interactions.
- Someone is trying to scam or blackmail you.
- Someone has ulterior motives and is possibly a predator.
- Someone who will become a friend or partner after you get to know one another.
Trust your gut always; if something feels off or it seems too good to be true, it usually is. Don’t be pressured to submit, send pictures or meet unless you want to. Always remember the boundaries YOU set for yourself.
You are right to want to test the waters and see what is out there in the online world of kink, but as we all have limits and boundaries, you need to set the same boundaries for yourself when it comes to online BDSM communities.