Feeld launches ‘Reflections’: An interactive kink quiz

I’ve definitely wondered if my specific brand of horny was actually “normal.” As it turns out, the concept of “normal” is basically an illusion. That is the main takeaway from the hookup app Feeld’s new “State of Reflections: Am I Normal?” report, which found that 42 percent of mainstream, non-Feeld daters actually practice kink.

Coinciding with the report, which “explores the gap” between what society labels as “normal” and what people really desire, Feeld launched an interactive quiz called Reflections to help you map out your own preferences. The tool was developed with researchers at the Bodies, Identities, Intimacies, and Technologies (BIIT) Lab at the University of Michigan, and you don’t need a Feeld account to do it.

But whether you’re single, coupled up, or in a messy situationship (Godspeed), trying to articulate your boundaries and desires to another person can be exhausting — especially if you’re on the apps. This feature is designed to make things a little less awkward.

Feeld’s new kinky quiz

Here’s how it works: Go to the link and click “Get started.” You’ll then be asked whether you’d like to continue in the browser or use the app. I’m on my computer writing this, so naturally, I chose to continue in Chrome. Of course, there’s a little age verification check. But it’s based on honesty; just check the box to confirm you’re 18 or older.

The questions are divided into three categories: Desires (four parts, 10 minutes), Boundaries (five parts, seven minutes), and Relationships (five parts, seven minutes). Each category asks you to answer questions based on a scale that ranges from “not at all interested” to “extremely interested.” The questions are written in very easy-to-understand language.

One quick tip: Make sure to really take your time with your answers. Once you finish the assessment, there doesn’t seem to be a reset button to go back and take it again from scratch.

The Desires category explores different types of kink play (e.g., BDSM, exhibitionism, group sex). This makes sense, considering Feeld’s report found its members are almost three times more likely to engage in BDSM and power play than the general population. The Boundaries section covers potential red flags and dealbreakers. According to the study, 75 percent of Feeld members consider talking about safe sex normal, while only 25 percent of external daters say the same. Having a whole section dedicated to this makes establishing those ground rules incredibly validating.

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The Relationships portion focuses on communication styles and whether non-monogamy is something you’d be comfortable with (which tracks, since Feeld originated as an app for polyamorous folks, even as more normies have made accounts). There are two written questions at the end of this section. You can only write up to 300 characters, and I’m not totally sure how they factor this into your overall “score.”

Once you finish a section, the tool provides customized results that reflect your specific values and communication style. For example, the Boundaries section measures your voice and consent on a scale from “finding voice” to “warming up” to “clear,” complete with a specific percentage. You can then click “go deeper” to get a full breakdown of your results, and there’s even a QR code you can scan to save them to your Feeld account.

Overall, I felt my percentages were pretty fair — though my experience highlighted an interesting quirk about the assessment. The quiz gave me a 24 percent rating for my kink affinity, which I don’t believe is exactly accurate. I realized I was answering those specific prompts through the lens of a specific relationship rather than thinking about my desires in general, which definitely skewed my results. If you take it, keep that in mind: Your score might shift depending on who you’re picturing.

On the flip side, my kink orientation score was spot on. It gave me an 83 percent (“integrated”), correctly noting that kink plays a meaningful role in my desires. It even broke that down into sub-categories, giving me a 78 percent (“kinky”) for expression, a 53 percent (“exploratory”) for interests, and a 100 percent “enthusiast” rating for toys.

After the assessment is over, your results are available via a shareable link, which is a great way to get your boundaries on paper. The tool basically does the heavy lifting of figuring out how to describe what you want, so you can skip those awkward introductory questions with potential partners. If you’re comfortable sharing your preferences upfront, just take the quiz, save your results, and send the link to anyone you’re talking to. Above all, don’t worry about being “normal.”