Poly Dating App 3Fun Reports on Polyamorous Media Portrayals

13th January 2025 Staff Writer

A recent survey conducted by 3Fun, a dating app tailored for open-minded individuals and polyamorous connections, reveals significant gaps in how polyamory is represented in mainstream media. Despite increasing visibility, only 11% of respondents felt media portrayals align with their lived experiences, underscoring the persistence of stereotypes and misrepresentation.

The survey, conducted with 1,312 users, highlighted key challenges polyamorous individuals face regarding media portrayal. Nearly 40% of participants reported rarely seeing polyamory depicted in mainstream content, with 17% stating they’ve never encountered such representation. Social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok were noted as the primary sources shaping public perceptions, influencing 40% of respondents compared to just 10% influenced by traditional media like TV or film.

While 39% of participants acknowledged some improvement in portrayals over time, 52% described current representations as inaccurate. For many, social media serves as a double-edged sword: while it can normalize polyamory (as noted by 40%), it also reinforces harmful stereotypes for 34% of users.

The survey also revealed that nearly half of respondents view cultural and societal norms as the primary barriers to acceptance, ahead of concerns about visibility or media portrayals. However, many believe better representation could foster easier conversations and greater understanding within their social circles.

This lack of representation – not just for poly relationships, but unconventional relationships in general – may be part of the reason why kinkier apps like Feeld have seen overwhelming waves of vanilla users. While this is great for engagement, it also raises questions of whether or not the specific niches of certian apps are clear (or enforced) enough, which some users feel is diluting the original point of the platforms by allowing a vanilla majority to drown out the diverse preferences behind these platforms.