What if there were an app that openly advertised extramarital affairs as its core offering? And what if there were millions of people willing to sign up for it? The situation is no longer hypothetical.
In a time when nearly every human need has gone digital, it was perhaps only a matter of time before infidelity found its own online ecosystem. That ecosystem exists in the form of Gleeden, a dating platform built exclusively for people seeking extramarital relationships.
What Is Gleeden?
Gleeden is a dating app designed specifically for extramarital affairs. Much like mainstream platforms such as Tinder or Hinge, it connects individuals looking for romantic or sexual relationships. The difference, however, lies in its positioning: it openly caters to people who are already married or in committed relationships.
The app describes itself as a space for those “looking for an affair in your area or a lover miles away while on a trip,” signalling that it does not shy away from its controversial premise.
Launched in 2009 in France, Gleeden was founded by women and promotes itself as a platform built with discretion and safety in mind. It revolves around the idea of forming romantic bonds outside traditional commitments such as marriage.
Years after its launch, the platform has witnessed significant growth in India. It claims to have crossed 3 million users in the country, marking a reported 270 per cent increase in its user base.
Why Is India Seeing a Surge?
India has historically championed monogamy and continues to grapple with societal restrictions surrounding love marriages, inter-caste unions, and individual romantic choice. Against this backdrop, the rapid growth of an app dedicated to extramarital affairs appears paradoxical.
According to a survey conducted by Gleeden among 1,510 respondents, 69 per cent believed there is scope for societal acceptance of extramarital affairs and open relationships in India.
Tier-1 cities such as Mumbai, Bengaluru, Delhi, and Kolkata account for the highest concentration of users. Bengaluru reportedly leads with 20 per cent of the user base, followed by Mumbai (19 per cent), Kolkata (18 per cent), and Delhi (15 per cent). Smaller cities such as Vadodara and Bhopal are also witnessing steady growth.
Sybil Shiddell, Gleeden’s Country Manager for India, stated that crossing the 3 million-user mark reflects evolving perceptions of relationships in the country. She highlighted growing participation from women and emphasised the importance of platforms that prioritise safety, discretion, and freedom of choice.
Read More: All About TikTok’s Toxic Dating Trend: Date Them Till You Hate Them
Affairs, Non-Monogamy, And Digital Visibility
Rashi Trehan, a counselling psychologist based in Delhi, draws an important distinction: extramarital affairs, consensual non-monogamy, and digital visibility are separate phenomena that are often conflated.
Affairs, she notes, are not new to Indian society. What has changed is access, anonymity, and language. The internet has made what was once private, hidden, and stigmatised more searchable, structured, and, to some extent, normalised through technology.
The rise of such platforms does not necessarily mean that infidelity itself has increased. It may instead signal that conversations around desire, dissatisfaction, autonomy, and relationship structures are becoming more visible.
What Message Does This Send?
For a country long shaped by strict societal codes, especially around love and marriage, the popularity of a platform like Gleeden is striking. It challenges traditional narratives and forces a confrontation with uncomfortable questions about commitment, freedom, and evolving relationship norms.
At the same time, it raises a deeper ethical debate: Does digital convenience translate into social acceptance? Or does visibility simply amplify practices that have always existed quietly?
The question remains open-ended: Have we reached a point where infidelity is being normalised, or are we merely witnessing the digitisation of something that was always there?
Image Credits: Google Images
Sources: Firstpost, The Times of India, Moneycontrol
Find the blogger: @shubhangichoudhary_29
This post is tagged under: Gleeden India, Extramarital affairs app India, Infidelity in India, Gleeden 3 million users India, Dating apps for married people, Rise of non monogamy in India, Modern marriage trends India, Digital infidelity India, Cheating
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