The internet’s reaction to OkCupid’s new polygamy feature

The dating site will now accommodate polygamous relationships

With polygamy gaining momentum in western culture in recent years, OkCupid has announced a feature that allows people to seek other users interested in, or already practicing, polygamy.

According to CNN:

Polyamorous people have trouble finding like-minded potential mates on most mainstream dating sites simply because there’s no way to search for them, said sex educator Anita Illig Wagner, founder of Practical Polyamory. And, monogamous people don’t always appreciate being approached blindly with an invitation into an open relationship.

“It’s a very big deal and I’m delighted that OkCupid has gotten this far with it,” she said. “I hope other sites take it seriously and we find ourselves welcome in even more major websites.”

Some Twitter users chided OkCupid because the new feature seems to be geared more toward open relationships, where people in the relationship are free to date other people, rather than polygamy, which involves three or more people who form one family unit:

. @okcupid our site has always supported you but saying you support #polyamory but only allowing us to link one profile is insulting.

— Jase Lindgren (@JaseLindgren) January 10, 2016

@okcupid missed the point completely. Please Google "couple's privilege" and don't confuse that with "#polyamory"

— Dedeker Winston (@DedekerWinston) January 10, 2016

@DedekerWinston @okcupid Yes, yes, yes! @OKCupid took one step forward and three steps back for us #SoloPoly #Polyamory

— objkshn (@objkshn) January 10, 2016

It will be interesting to see which, if any, other dating sites/apps follow OkCupid’s lead.