These are difficult times for dating apps. Modern dating has changed a lot, but Swipe-driven adventuredissatisfaction is in the air. It’s the endless gamification, the constant pressure to pony up for premium membership, and the hard work of having to sift through lackluster notifications. At the same time, sexuality has become incredibly complex. Generation Z is the queerest generation Now even suburban moms are experimenting with polyamory. These days, clearly defining your personal preferences for connection can be just as challenging as actually finding like-minded, horny humans.
input I felt itthe so-called “alternative dating” destination, was originally founded in 2014 as an express app for threesomes and open relationships. The London-based company has since expanded its mission as a “dating app for curious people” and made a name for itself. Uniting birds of a feather, especially within the kink and poly communities. And business has been great. According to Feeld, the app has seen 30% year-over-year growth worldwide since 2022.
Now, on October 16th, Feled will launch a paper magazine. with title shitty magazine (But you can also replace it like this) A magazine that makes you feel), this project was created by Daphne Merkin (infamous in 1996) new yorker spanking essay), Alison P. Davis (of new york‘s Recent Polycul cover story), Tony Turatimutte (author of this fall’s critically acclaimed book) incel novel).
“We have always had a unique resonance with the creators in our community,” Field CEO and co-founder Ana Kirova tells me, explaining the initial inspiration for the foray into print. spoke. shitty magazine—or as she calls it. AFM— which not only celebrates the app’s goal of allowing you to be creative when specifying the gender and connection you’re looking for, but also taps into the creative life of a typical Feld user. Yes (half of the content was created by Feeld users). Moreover, I felt that Kirova, like many so-called creators, could not turn down the chance to produce gorgeous prints. Her mother ran a printed newspaper in Bulgaria, and Kirova herself was 21 years old. She was a one-year-old graphic design student when she first met her future co-founder/partner, Dimo Trifonov, at a party in London. “Print has always had a special place in my life,” Kirova says.
Field CEO and Co-Founder Ana Kirova
A magazine directly inspired by French art publications of the 1980s. FMR and Fuck You: Magazine Around 1960s, Wouldn’t look out of place in a matte copy of N+1, The Driftor whitney review It sits on the typical indie intellectual’s coffee table (in fact, there are ads for all three in the back of the issue). The content is substantial, with plenty of film criticism, poetry, and essays, including a roundtable of literary enthusiasts musing on the difference between dedication and loyalty, as well as a how-to guide to making your own latex. It is. It’s definitely less sanitary than a typical brand’s IG feed, but it’s more esoteric than creepy.
When I told Kirova that it was quite audacious to publish something like the essay by author Merritt Tierce on a TV show about abortion in a magazine issue devoted to the pursuit of happiness, she said, He said this without clouding his eyes. It’s about giving people the space to say things that others won’t say, can’t do, or avoid saying,” Kirova explains. This is not Field’s first foray into print publishing. In the years leading up to the pandemic, the company published an erotic literary magazine called Maru. This time Kirova wants to publish AFM Twice a year.
From a branding perspective, entering the media business is not an unexpected move. Snapchat online magazine, real lifeIt was as noble and beloved as the Dollar Shave Club men’s publication. Mel magazine (However, both publications have since gone out of print). Print media has achieved, if not a complete monetizable renaissance, at least a newfound prestige, especially among the public. traditional magazine publisher Also fashion and luxury brands. Who would forget their lines? Miu Miu book pop-up From June? Tactility in the age of screens – after all, there’s nothing quite like it.
Even Hinge has recently entered the zine scene, commissioning its own collections of clever literary works. writing short stories About real hinge matched couples. I ask Kirova what she thinks AFM Launching this campaign a few months after her Hinge ZINE campaign, she further strengthened her unique relationship with the field and its “community.” (This isn’t a bad strategy; it’s hard to imagine that most of the men I’ve met on Hinge would want to read a few thousand words about the “erotics of misery.”)
In addition to actually making a good magazine, I think Feld is also uniquely benefiting from this moment culturally. Indeed, all the latest discussions about our growing anxiety As for heteronormativity, marriage, and monogamy itself, it may ultimately be in Felt’s favor. With over 20 sexuality and gender identity options, and the ability to link up to five Polyqueur members, it’s easy to imagine a world where an app trumps the rush-and-delete mentality of traditional dating . App.
“We were way ahead of our time with what we created,” Kirova says when asked if the field is the future. She is careful to use Esther Perel-esque “openness” and “intent” when talking about the field’s mission. Her tone evokes a feel-good utopian vision where abundant sex and connection are simply a matter of seriousness and well-intentioned design. At least it’s now much easier to talk about the app itself. It is said that in the early days, she and Trifonov were unable to rent office space because the landlord did not allow it. “The nature of their business”
“Our intentions are very optimistic,” Kirova says of the threat of common dating app fatigue. “I think it’s just time for the whole way we do meetings to mature, even though current technology is disappointing a lot of people.” That means we’re now reliant on apps. You may be used to doing that, but you may still need to get used to the idea that apps can’t do anything. all It’s part of the job for us.
Field CEO Kirova isn’t worried about dating app fatigue.
It’s a lesson Kirova herself says she’s learning. Before getting off Zoom, I talked about how her own views on dating have evolved since the day she wrote Trifonov the first letter that led to the beginning of their relationship, a key part of Field’s legend. I asked him if he had done so. She thinks about this for a moment.
“Just as I don’t support monogamy as the norm, I don’t support ethical non-monogamy as the norm,” Kirova concludes. “I look at the relationships that I build with people with a lot of care and intention, how each person and everyone together influences each other. It’s a bit abstract, but… , rather than thinking about it, that’s how we coexist with people. Oh, how do I connect with this person and then that person, what’s the structure of that? It really feels like you’re creating something with other people. ”
Furthermore, she adds: “What remains the same is that there is always something to learn. There is never a moment when you are, Yes, I see all the connections.In other words, the process never ends. But you can still create something beautiful, at least a magazine.
Delia Kai is a writer living in Brooklyn. She runs the media and culture newsletter Deez Links.
