Editing Adult FriendFinder (section)

==History==
In 1993, Andrew Conru created the first online dating site,<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Creator of the First Online Dating Site Is Still Dating Online |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/the-creator-of-the-first-online-dating-site-is-still-dating-online/ |access-date=2022-05-22 |website=Vice.com |date=16 June 2016 |language=en}}</ref> WebPersonals. After selling that site in 1995, he launched FriendFinder.com, an early social networking site, in 1996.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlinepersonalswatch.com/news/2007/03/the_accidental_.html |title=The Accidental 'Friend' Finder - Online Personals Watch: News on the Dating Industry and Business |publisher=Online Personals Watch |date=2007-03-30 |access-date=2014-06-25}}</ref> Days after the site went live, Conru found that people were posting naked pictures of themselves and seeking partners for adult-oriented activities. As a result, Conru started Adult FriendFinder, which he described as "a release valve". FriendFinder has since established other niche dating sites, including Senior FriendFinder, Amigos.com, BigChurch.com, and Alt.com.<ref name="autogenerated2007">{{cite web|last=Stein |first=Joel |url=https://money.cnn.com/magazines/business2/business2_archive/2007/04/01/8403370/ |title=Social networking's dirty side |work=[[CNN]] |date=2007-03-30 |access-date=2014-06-25}}</ref>

The parent company (Various, Inc.) had difficulty finding [[venture capital]] due to the adult nature of its business.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/27/business/27venture.html?n=Top/News/Business/Small%20Business/Innovation |title=A Thaw in Investment Prospects for Sex-Related Businesses? Maybe |author=Matt Richtel |date=July 27, 2007 |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=2008-02-02}}</ref> In December 2007, the company was sold to the [[Penthouse (magazine)|Penthouse Media Group]] for $500 million.<ref>{{cite web |first= Jim |last= Hopkins |title= Penthouse' makes $500M hookup with social site Various |publisher= USA Today |date= Dec 13, 2007 |url= https://www.usatoday.com/tech/techinvestor/corporatenews/2007-12-12-penthouse_N.htm }}
</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/11/confirmed-penthouse-buys-adultfriendfinder-for-500-million/ |title=Confirmed: Penthouse Buys AdultFriendFinder For $500 Million |author=Duncan Riley |date=2007-12-11 |work=[[TechCrunch]] |access-date=2009-06-08| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090601135926/http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/11/confirmed-penthouse-buys-adultfriendfinder-for-500-million/| archive-date= 1 June 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref> Penthouse later changed its name to FriendFinder Networks.<ref>{{cite web |first=Stuart |last=Pfeifer |url=http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-penthouse-bankruptcy-20130918-story.html |title=Penthouse publisher FriendFinder files for bankruptcy protection |work=Los Angeles Times |date=2013-09-17 |access-date=2014-06-10}}</ref> In October 2009, as part of an arrangement with [[The Kluger Agency]],  musician [[Flo Rida]] released a music video for his song "[[Touch Me (Flo Rida song)|Touch Me]]" via Adult FriendFinder. A representative of the agency stated that it was "always great to combine a very sexy high octane record with a very sexy brand.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2009/10/26/flo-rida-video-premiers-on-adultfriendfinder/ | work=The Wall Street Journal | first=Andrew | last=LaVallee | title=Flo Rida Video Premieres on AdultFriendFinder | date=2009-10-26}}</ref>

On September 17, 2013, parent company [[FriendFinder Networks]] filed for [[Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Valinsky |first=Jordan |url=http://betabeat.com/2013/09/adultfriendfinder-bankruptcy/ |title=AdultFriendFinder Totally F*cked |publisher=Betabeat |access-date=2014-06-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424127887323527004579080821727792140 |title=Penthouse Publisher FriendFinder Files for Bankruptcy Protection |first=Marie |last=Beaudette |date=September 17, 2013 |work=The Wall Street Journal}}</ref> In December 2013, FriendFinder Networks emerged from bankruptcy protection with reorganization in effect.<ref>{{cite web|last=Bathon |first=Michael |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-12-16/friendfinder-alters-reorganization-plan-to-win-court-ok.html |title=FriendFinder Alters Reorganization Plan to Win Court OK |publisher=Bloomberg |date=2013-12-16 |access-date=2014-06-10}}</ref> Founder Andrew Conru gained control of the company and is CEO.<ref>{{cite web|author=Andrew B. Conru Ph.D. |url=http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=8121728&privcapId=4881467&previousCapId=1599586&previousTitle=Friendfinder%20California,%20Inc |title=Andrew Conru: Executive Profile & Biography - Businessweek |publisher=Investing.businessweek.com |access-date=2014-06-10}}{{dead link|date=April 2023|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>