The rise of online dating over the past few years has been huge, with over 41,250,000 people admitting to have tried it in the US alone, and according to a large-scale survey from 2010, around 10 million adult American couples met online. In fact, it's statistically less likely you'll find a future sweetheart at a bar, school or work than on the Internet.

Whether you are looking for someone old, young, slim, fat, gay, straight or in fact anything you can think of, there is an online dating site out there catering for your every need. A popular fashion on the rise within online dating is the increase in sites catering for people who are looking for BDSM, fetish or kinky dating.

Over the years BDSM, S&M and fetish has got a pretty bad rep, but the basic principles can be extremely liberating and in the long run if you engage with it, turn you on in a way that you would never even have thought about. It is all about the erotic and sexual acts and mind-sets of dominating and relinquishing control.

A contributing factor to the rise in popularity and awareness of BDSM / Fetish / S&M / Kink over recent times has to be related to the ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ book trilogy. Fifty Shades of Grey centres around literature student Anastasia Steele, who embarks on a daring and passionate physical affair with young entrepreneur, Christian Grey. Grey is a man tormented by demons and consumed by the need to control. Erotic, amusing, and deeply moving, the Fifty Shades Trilogy is a tale that will obsess you, possess you, and stay with you forever. It’s not that surprising that Fifty Shades of Grey has gone on to become the best-selling book in Britain since records began, surpassing Harry Potter and more popular than The Highway Code, and is now classed as the best-selling book of all time with 5.3 million sales.

As the popularity of ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ grew larger and larger within the mainstream media and public, so did the idea of BDSM, fetish, S&M and erotica. The once slightly taboo subjects were all of a sudden social acceptable and with the unrivaled success of the book trilogy it was undoubtedly always going to lead to a film series. With the first of 3 movies coming to cinema (aptly on Valentines day 2015) soon, everyone will be hoping to find their own Christian Grey or Anastasia Steele, and what better way to find them could there be

then on an online dating site?

The sudden popularity shift to online BDSM and fetish dating sites, S&M dating sites and adult dating sites in general is only set to rise as the book and film series continues to grow and grow throughout the world.

So what do this adult, fetish, BDSM and S&M dating sites offer?

Well the vast majority of them offer real lovers of BDSM, fetish and fantasy and a place to meet. Most also cater for regular dating as well as cougar dating, toy boy dating and much much more.

How do I know I’m not being scammed?

The vast majority of decent adult online dating sites are FREE to join and don’t require any payment information from you. You should be aware of any site that asks for payment as soon as you enter.

How do I know that who I’m talking to is genuine?

Be suspicious of rapid escalation. If the person suggests that the communication switches to phone calls and texting ASAP, be alarmed. Then, if the phone calls and texting rapidly escalate in expressions of love and passion, and within a matter of 5 to 6 weeks they tell you that they have fallen in love, be very alarmed.

All in all online dating is an exciting, safe and proven way of meeting new people and/or finding your Mr or Mrs Right.