This question comes up a lot, and it’s definitely not cool that so many people confuse polyamory with cheating, so let’s set the record straight. Polyamorous couples give each other permission to go out one dates, explore sexual relationships, and create new connections that fulfill their desires. It’s not cheating because you have your primary partner’s blessing. Monogamous couples do no sanction such behavior, and they expect to be the sole recipient of their partner’s love and affection, so dating outside of these relationships is called cheating. The poly lifestyle differs from cheating because one builds trust, and the other breaks trust. Of course, both situations could lead to jealousy, but poly couples have the benefit of being open with each other to work through such issues and keep the primary relationship strong. Some cheaters may claim to be polyamorous, but they’re engaging in unethical nonmonagamy and selfishly disregarding their partner’s wishes. That’s not what ethical polyamory is about at all. The Advocate reports that Gallup polls taken from 2001 to 2015 reveal a 15% increase among those who view sex between an unmarried man and unmarried woman as acceptable, a 16% increase in the acceptability of having a baby out of wedlock, and a 16% increase in the acceptability of polygamy. Our experts believe all of this contributes to a growing acceptance of polyamory. Our experts also believe the seven sites on this list are playing a major role.