It treats dating and relationships as a game.' 'The pick-up artist mindset and goal is really to turn the pursuit of women into a game - assuming it has specific rules and women behave in certain ways that are ripe for exploitation. She says the easiest way to understand FDS is to think of it as a reaction to the phenomenon of 'pick-up artistry'. That's a strong subscriber base considering all members are women and Reddit is a male-dominated space, says Dr Emily van der Nagel, a lecturer in social media at Monash University. The female-only forum on social media platform Reddit has 100,000 subscribers and describes itself as a place to discuss effective dating strategies for women. 'Being able to connect with other women on the forum helped me understand that I subconsciously seek out guys who are not right for me.' 'When I first started reading the posts on FDS, I felt very empowered. 'I've often believed I have to change, and accept whatever is thrown my way,' the 36-year-old says.ĭiscovering the subreddit Female Dating Strategy (FDS) helped her take control of her love life. For a long time, Jenny thought she was to blame for men treating her badly.
