FRIES is a consent framework where consent must be Freely given, Reversible, Informed, Enthusiastic, and Specific. Developed by Planned Parenthood, FRIES has been widely adopted in BDSM communities because it captures the ongoing nature of consent during a scene.
FRIES is an acronym describing the five characteristics of valid consent: Freely given, Reversible, Informed, Enthusiastic, and Specific. The framework was developed by Planned Parenthood and has been adopted broadly across BDSM communities because it addresses several weaknesses in older consent models. Freely given means consent is offered without coercion, manipulation, or impairment. Reversible means any participant can withdraw consent at any point, including mid-scene. Informed means participants understand what they are agreeing to, including specific activities and potential risks. Enthusiastic means the consent is genuinely wanted rather than reluctantly permitted. Specific means consent to one activity does not extend to others. Within BDSM, FRIES is often used alongside SSC or RACK rather than replacing them. The framework is particularly useful for scene negotiation because it provides clear language for discussing what consent looks like in practice, and it reminds both partners that consent is ongoing rather than a one-time agreement.