The Ashley Madison Agency has been in service since 2001 and has already garnered a lot of attention on TV shows like 20/20, Larry King and Ellen DeGeneres for its non-traditional approach to dating and romantic rendezvous. The organization is made up of both singles looking for attached members and attached members looking for other married or attached couples and singles. This system is called discreet dating, and the site unabashedly encourages members, "Life is short. Have an affair." Currently, there are over 2.3 million members looking for a one-night stand or other elicit partnership.

Guest Members may sign up on Ashley Madison for free, and this subscription gives them access to features like "winks" and the ability to view photos from all members. Full Members can send messages through a private e-mail system, start chat sessions, manage a block list, maintain a Private Showcase of photos and more. While Ashley Madison does preview photos and text added to public sections of the website, there are no guarantees or validity checks given to member profiles. To maintain as much anonymity as possible, members’ credit cards can be billed as Ashley Madison or in more discreet ways, depending on your preferences. Members never have to reveal their true identity unless they want to take an online relationship to the next level. The company does not encourage infidelity; rather, it claims to offer individuals in a troubled relationship a safe space to explore their feelings and avoid taking risks that could further damage themselves or their relationship.

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