Threesomes and Polyamory: The Left’s Got an App for That

Just in case you thought dating apps couldn’t get any weirder, now there’s one exclusively for threesomes. From the makers of the dating apps, “Tinder” and “Grindr” comes a new app, 3nder [1], which advertises “Threesomes made easy!”  It’s website claims, it’s “the easiest way to satisfy your human needs and spend some fun time with other people.” Sounds more like an advertisement for an island getaway instead of a hookup site for kinky sex. And that’s the point. 

This is not just app for what people want to do in the privacy of their own homes. The app’s maker hopes to, “Make society more open about sexual desires.” You see, “swingers,” carry a stigma “the same way gay people were 15 years ago. We need to evolve our social acceptance.” 

This isn’t the first time that society’s acceptance of gays has been used as a gateway to mainstream other types of sexual relationships. Polygamy supporters have claimed multiple times that same-sex marriage makes it easier [2] for that lifestyle to be accepted into the mainstream [3], and now polyamory (multiple lovers) advocates are doing the same [4].

And they have plenty of help from the media. Time online [5] thought the app was, “All fine and good, but we still think the first step here is coming up with a better name.” Cosmo praised the app with the cheery headline, “Here’s how to have a successful threesome [6]!” But this isn’t surprising, considering the media has been promoting all kinds of sexual weirdness for a long time. ABC has promoted the “modern family” with multiple parents [7] and preached the “gospel of polyamory;” [8] The Atlantic has hyped the merits of polyamorous relationships [9]; and Planned Parenthood promoted teen promiscuity [10].