Johan Guams launched Batemates, a specialized subscription-based platform, to provide the queer “bating” community with a secure, censorship-free environment after mainstream corporate tools like Zoom and Microsoft Teams escalated their bans on adult content. This digital sanctuary caters to men who engage in communal masturbation—a practice known as “bating”—offering a sophisticated alternative to the increasingly restricted public forums and video conferencing apps that previously hosted these global sessions.
The Corporate Exodus: Why Queer Spaces Migrated Online
The rise of dedicated platforms like Batemates stems from the digital displacement of LGBTQ+ communities during and after the pandemic. While the 2020 lockdowns forced men to trade physical saunas for private Skype and Zoom channels, the subsequent crackdown on “sensitive content” by major tech firms left these groups homeless. Following Skype’s 2023 service changes and Zoom’s aggressive reporting of nudity, the community sought refuge in encrypted apps like Telegram and forums like BateWorld. However, these solutions often lacked the cohesive user experience required for high-quality, real-time interaction.
“All the corporate tools were just banning us,” explains Batemates founder Johan Guams, a 31-year-old product designer from Paris. Guams, who spent a decade solving flow issues for major hotel chains, recognized a market gap for a platform that treats adult pleasure not as a violation, but as a lifestyle. His platform rejects corporate sanctimony, operating under the provocative ethos that “everyone bates.”
Engineering a Premium Bating Experience
Unlike its predecessors, Batemates operates on a professionalized subscription model, charging $17.99 monthly or $155 annually. This revenue structure allows the platform to remain entirely ad-free and independent of outside investors who might otherwise demand content sanitization. To ensure user safety and compliance with legal standards, the app employs rigorous onboarding protocols, including ID verification through third-party vendor Shufti Pro and content moderation via Besedo.
The technical architecture supports rooms of up to 32 participants, though Guams notes that users typically gravitate toward smaller, more intimate groups. These sessions are often categorized by specific kinks, ranging from leather and verbal play to more intense fetishes. A robust search function allows the platform’s 10,000 members—predominantly aged between 30 and 50—to filter potential partners by age, location, and ethnicity.
Strict Protocols: The “No Lurking” Mandate
To preserve the integrity of the communal experience, Batemates enforces a strict “camera-on” policy. This rule eliminates “lurkers”—passive observers who watch without participating—whom many regulars compare to tourists gawking at a zoo. If a user disables their camera, the system automatically removes them from the session. While privacy-conscious members may position their cameras from the neck down or wear masks, “face-mandatory” rooms exist for those seeking total transparency and deeper connection.
“Everyone is participating,” says a 47-year-old software developer known as Puppaluffagus. For him, the requirement for active involvement makes Batemates a superior destination compared to older, more anonymous forums. The platform currently exists as a dedicated application for Windows and MacOS, with a mobile-friendly web version slated for release by the end of the year.
The Gooning Phenomenon and the Pinnacle of Pleasure
A significant portion of the platform’s activity centers on “gooning,” a state of intense sexual arousal achieved through prolonged edging and sensory immersion. While gooning has recently trended on mainstream platforms like TikTok, Guams argues that the true practice is far from the performative versions seen in the “Gooniversity” podcast or general social media. Within Batemates, gooning represents a vulnerable, meditative state where inhibitions are discarded entirely.
“It’s about bonding with yourself deeply,” Guams asserts. He distinguishes bating—which may end in quick ejaculation—from gooning, which is a communal, non-rushed experience focused on reaching a “pinnacle of pleasure” through shared moaning, grunting, and total sensory surrender.
Inclusivity and the Ethics of Data Privacy
As a biracial founder, Guams prioritized the inclusion of ethnicity filters to help men of color find specific communities within the broader platform. Despite past controversies surrounding such filters on apps like Grindr, Guams maintains they are essential for visibility and comfort, noting that people of color account for approximately 50 percent of the platform’s daily activity.
Ultimately, Batemates positions itself as a defiant stand against the commodification and surveillance of queer sexuality. By refusing to sell user data or host advertisements, Guams intends to keep the platform “by bators, for bators,” ensuring that the digital intimacy shared within its rooms remains private and protected from the shifting policies of Silicon Valley giants.
