Seals/Awards for Original BDSM Content

Around the internet, seals or awards are widely spread. They are mostly used around the internet on blogs that display the same type of content or share the same values.

Normally, each seal has a set of rules in which the site/blog/page has to comply with. Having such a seal can be a good way to grow specific communities that subscribe to the same values and content. Taking part in this type of group is a good indicator of the site/blog/page's beliefs, but does not mean other pages displaying similar content but not displaying a seal (or that particular seal) are fakes, wrong or that their content is not to be trusted. It just means that those having a seal belong to a group of networked pages and possibly share the same values. Some BDSM pages/blogs have their own seal where they belong to.

 

We have been working on making our own official seal for the past several months to present to pages around the web (on various platforms) that share similar values and display similar, but diverse, content as ours. Once we launch this new seal and ask certain sites/blogs/pages to display it, it will not mean that all other sites/blogs/pages not showing our seal are fakes. It will simply mean that we haven't seen those particular sites/blogs/pages yet, or that they are simply not a part of our group or network. The sites/blogs/pages displaying our seal will mean that page posts mostly their own original BDSM content and does not mostly share articles or pictures that are widely spread across the internet. We have never, nor will we ever, imply that people practicing a BDSM Lifestyle has to practice it the way we do. We believe that as long as SSC or RACK is in use and all parties involved in the relationship are consenting and knowledgeable, there is no wrong or right way to live a BDSM lifestyle.

Now, to the main reason for this post. There is a group on Facebook that started out as a page sharing group to help grow and boost likes/followers within that particular group. It was originated by a BDSM page that has a large following. They recently made a seal and added it with the title 'Best of BDSM' to their group to distinguish those pages from other BDSM related pages on Facebook. They just did something that many other pages/sites/blogs do on the internet and there is nothing wrong with this. It is a good way to set the pages of a particular network apart from others on Facebook because, as you know, there are hundreds of Lifestyle related pages.

The part we have an issue with and think is very wrong, is that when they announced this seal addition, they misled their audience. They claim all pages not carrying their "official" seal are fakes and do not provide real or good BDSM content. They also imply that any page other than those displaying this seal may actually give harmful information to their followers. They go on to say that only the "elite" BDSM pages on Facebook will be the ones to carry this seal. There is no authority in the BDSM Lifestyle community that can make any page/group official, nor does any group have a right to dictate their beliefs and try to impose those beliefs on anyone in the BDSM community.

Facebook itself can, and has, initiated their own 'Facebook Verified Fanpage' seal. This seal was started as a way to distinguish official celebrity and brand pages from unofficial pages opened by fans or others. It has nothing to do with the belief system or actual content of a page. The entire metrics on how to obtain this verification from Facebook has not been completely revealed to the public as of yet, but two of the criteria that has been revealed is that a large fan base/number of likes has been established and that the page has to have been up and functioning on Facebook for a certain amount of time. Here is an example of a real Facebook Verified Fanpage. Anything else you see is made up by the page itself and is not a REAL Facebook Verified Fanpage.

Official and Real Example of Facebook Verified Fan page

It is up to you to decide who and what you want to believe. But, as followers of the blog/FB pages, as well as possible readers of the book BDSM Basics for Beginners, you know knowledge and experience when you see it.

Don't be taken in or fooled by the false information or fake verifications displaying " Official Facebook Fan Page ✔ Verified Account " ! If you believe it is worth it, spread the word!