More than half of OkCupid users like bondage, kink

Clicking on yes i like to be tied up in a 100 questions survey is veeery far from actually liking it IRL

Link between political beliefs in the article could imply that kink is related to need for external social approval before indulging in their true desires.

All those costumes and gear looks like a ritual framework for people who lack innate self acceptance, and conformance to the aesthetic relieves them of their ego defense that was preventing them from allowing themselves to experience the true power dynamic of who they were. Men relieved of responsibility to be dominant, or of responsibility they did not feel they owned, women relieved of expectation to be strong, or of the expectation to be compliant and "good."

With only a political and social, not spiritual or moral framework for self acceptance, it follows that progressives are turning to kink as a kind of ritual therapy.

Having picked up dating apps and Okcupid recently after ending a 4 year relationship, my guess is that Okcupid has become particularly friendly to people seeking BDSM and non-monogamous relationships. I had used it before and at least anecdotally what I see OKC users looking for is different from before. A lot of people have moved to swipe dating apps like Tinder and Bumble where the focus is almost entirely on photographs and not what users write about themselves. Maybe Okcupid is drawing users into BDSM and other non-traditional relationships because they can talk about it in their profiles and potential dates may actually pay attention rather than just swiping.