No full-text available
To read the full-text of this research,
you can request a copy directly from the author.
Understanding the motivations for using Tinder
Abstract
Tinder has become one of the most popular apps for online users to launch offline connections. While Tinder is culturally known as a “hook up app,” the true reasons behind users interacting on the app are unclear. The current study employed individual, in-depth interviews (N = 31) to understand the functions Tinder serves its users. Two themes emerged from the data to explain Tinder’s functions: Entertainment and Connections. An explanation of each theme and sub-theme revealed that while Tinder is used for self-entertaining purposes, most users seek offline relationships beyond the scope of a stereotypical hook up (i.e. friendship, romantic committed relationships). Implications from these findings should be explored in the future to determine how users’ motivations for interacting on Tinder affect their communication with other users and influence their relational outcomes.
... The temporal and geographical flexibility, as well as the functionality and ease of use, make dating apps more convenient for users to communicate online and meet offline, compared to other applications, social networking sites, and dating websites (Jung et al., 2019;Ranzini & Lutz, 2017). Unlike platforms like Facebook or TripAdvisor, where people follow celebrities or key opinion leaders (KOLs) for information, most dating app users are seeking meaningful connections, whether it is for casual hook-ups (LeFebvre, 2018), long-term relationships or friendships (Timmermans & Courtois, 2018), or leisure and entertainment activities (Kallis, 2020;Timmermans & De Caluwé, 2017). Additionally, while dating apps typically show potential matches within driving distance of the user, new features, such as Passport features in Tinder, have allowed users to interact with profiles from anywhere in the world. ...
... For these participants, dating apps are the platform where they were acquainted with fresh insights, which subsequently shaped their travel motivations. These findings agree with previous studies (Kallis, 2020;Timmermans & De Caluwé, 2017) by showing how dating apps became a helpful platform for enhancing leisurely experiences. Being acquainted with information on gastronomy, adventure, and entertainment has made the participants feel the necessity to travel. ...
... This study serves as a crucial foundation for explaining how online social interactions, using social penetration and self-disclosure, can facilitate offline travel behaviours. Dating app users rely on self-disclosure to present an extension of themselves through their profiles, which aids the perception of realness (Melumad & Meyer, 2020), the procedural exchange of information (Leurs & Hardy, 2019), and closeness among fellow users (Kallis, 2020;Petrychyn et al., 2020). Going through three stages of self-disclosure, involving the gradual, reciprocal, categorical, and hierarchical sharing of information within the app, was seen to have helped develop travel intentions. ...
This study investigates the effect of self-disclosure on travel motivations and intentions among users of dating apps. Data were collected through a year of appnography and 22 in-depth interviews. The findings show that dating app users go through three stages of self-disclosure, involving the gradual, reciprocal, and hierarchical sharing of information within the app. This self-disclosure leads to the development of travel motivations and strengthens intentions to travel internationally. The study suggests that dating apps, although not designed for travel purposes, can be beneficial to the tourism industry. This paper presents appnographic insights and argues for the increasing importance of online dating apps in the realm of tourism as a platform for creating travel motivations and intentions through in-app interactions.
... Grindr is known as a gay hook up app; Bumble is known for women making the first move; and Hinge is known for making committed connections. Previous studies show Tinder users are motivated to use the app for entertainment purposes (Kallis, 2020;Ligtenberg, 2015;Ward, 2017), casual sex (Kallis, 2020;Sales, 2015;Stenson, Balcells, & Chen, 2015), dating/long-term romantic relationships (Foster, 2016;Kallis, 2020;Stenson et al., 2015;Van De Wiele & Tong, 2014), and to boost their ego (Ward, 2017). ...
... Grindr is known as a gay hook up app; Bumble is known for women making the first move; and Hinge is known for making committed connections. Previous studies show Tinder users are motivated to use the app for entertainment purposes (Kallis, 2020;Ligtenberg, 2015;Ward, 2017), casual sex (Kallis, 2020;Sales, 2015;Stenson, Balcells, & Chen, 2015), dating/long-term romantic relationships (Foster, 2016;Kallis, 2020;Stenson et al., 2015;Van De Wiele & Tong, 2014), and to boost their ego (Ward, 2017). ...
... Grindr is known as a gay hook up app; Bumble is known for women making the first move; and Hinge is known for making committed connections. Previous studies show Tinder users are motivated to use the app for entertainment purposes (Kallis, 2020;Ligtenberg, 2015;Ward, 2017), casual sex (Kallis, 2020;Sales, 2015;Stenson, Balcells, & Chen, 2015), dating/long-term romantic relationships (Foster, 2016;Kallis, 2020;Stenson et al., 2015;Van De Wiele & Tong, 2014), and to boost their ego (Ward, 2017). ...
Location-based dating apps such as Tinder are rising in popularity as more adults seek online outlets to garner romantic partnership. Engagement on such apps can lead to an increase or decrease in self-esteem, which this study explored. Thirty-one participants explained how creating their profile, swiping, matching, and messaging connected with their well-being. Results reveal female users have an overall more positive experience than males, who noted more examples of unrequited communication on Tinder. Gay males in particular shared stories of insecurities while viewing others’ photographs and contemplating communicating with others. The practical implications provide suggestions for Tinder to continue to alter its interface: 1) consider implementing measures to ensure accurate photographs are connected to users; 2) create a swiping experience that does not allow users to rapidly swipe right on all profiles, and 3) explore options with subdivisions of Tinder, such as Big and Tall or Curvy. Continual evaluation of user experiences on Tinder is necessary to monitor users’ mental and emotional well-being.
... Furthermore, users can 'curate' their image depending on the platform they are employing, and their main intentions (Boulianne and Larsson 2021;Yau and Reich 2019). In the case of mobile dating apps (MDAs henceforth), users' intentions may widely vary and include different motivations like having casual sex, being merely entertained by using the app or finding a serious relationship (Sumter, Vandenbosch, and Ligtenberg 2017;Kallis 2020). Whatever their intention, users might choose to display different information about themselves on their profiles. ...
... The UK.WSM.T.P.C.1 (items:95; f 19 =386) included more 4-grams than the UK.WSW.T.P.C.1 (items:40; f=136). References to social media engagement (whether promoted or vindicated) occured most often in UK.WSM.T.P.C.1 Parallelly, WSW were significantly more likely to indicate their relationship goals than WSM, extending prior research suggesting that WSM use Tinder for various purposes (Sumter, Vandenbosch, and Ligtenberg 2017;Kallis 2020) to WSW as well. However, they reported different goals; WSM favouring long-term romantic relationships and WSW also seeking community-building through the app (Pym, Byron and Albury 2021), rather than solely pursuing rapid romantic involvement, a stereotype known as "U-haul" (Annati and Ramsey 2022 (14) [WSW] I swear I don't wear cowboy boots as often as my profile suggests. ...
The focus of this article is the linguistic choices made by women-seeking-men (WSM) and women-seeking-women (WSW) on Tinder profiles in the UK, which builds on prior corpus-analytical research on dating profiles (Baker 2018; Collins 2019). Data was collected through TinderBotz, a scraping tool which gathered the information publicly displayed on Tinder profiles. Then, to ensure an ethical research praxis, it assigned each profile random identification numbers that guaranteed the anonymity of the users. The corpus consists of two subcorpora (WSM.C and WSW.C) each containing 405 profiles (average number of words=20.15) from women (18-24 y.o.) based in the UK. Given that profile creation on Tinder consists of two parts (the first being semi-guided and the second part, aka the ‘about me’ section, being fully creative), each sub-corpora (WSM.C and WSW.C) was in turn divided into two parts. UK.WSM.T.P.C.1 and UK.WSW.T.P.C.1 include the semi-guided part of the profile while UK.WSM.T.P.C.2 and UK.WSW.T.P.C.2 include the ‘about me’ section). Sketch Engine was used to search for significant n-grams and keywords in both sub-corpora and chi-square tests were conducted to determine the significance of our findings. Our results showed that WSM had less elaborate profiles, mentioned physical attributes (e.g., height) and often redirected potential matches to other platforms (i.e., Instagram). Meanwhile, WSW had more creative ‘about me’ sections in which they described their identity in greater detail (e.g., leatherdyke). Overall, both groups showed similar profiles in terms of work and relationship status.
... Users had an understanding of their social and psychological needs, which they sought to fulfil (e.g., Miller 2015;Van De Wiele and Tong 2014), and, prior to the pandemic, a range of motivations had been identified as to why people use online dating. The most common motivations for using ODPs include for sex (e.g., Bryant and Sheldon 2017;Licoppe et al. 2016;Ranzini and Lutz 2017;Timmermans and Alexopoulos 2020), for entertainment (e.g., Aaron 2017; Kallis 2020; Sumter and Vandenbosch 2019;Timmermans and De Caluwé 2017b), to find romantic relationships (e.g., Foster 2016; Kallis 2020; Lenhart and Duggan 2014;Sumter et al. 2017), and to find friendships (e.g., Byron et al. 2021;Kallis 2020;Ranzini and Lutz 2017). However, online dating users are also motivated by wanting companionship (e.g., Watson and Stelle 2021), to escape from their real lives (Wang and Chang 2010), among other reasons. ...
... Our data suggests that users are still motivated to find romantic relationships, which is consistent with the literature (e.g., Kallis 2020;Sumter et al. 2017). Furthermore, our findings are consistent with pre-pandemic literature, which found that users use ODPs to seek non-romantic partners (e.g., Byron et al. 2021;Watson and Stelle 2021) and to socialise (e.g., Timmermans and De Caluwé 2017a;Tanner and Huggins 2018). ...
There were reported increases in negative emotions such as boredom and loneliness during lockdown; simultaneously, there was a notable increase in new users and activity on online dating platforms (ODPs). While motivations for using ODPs vary widely, there is limited understanding for users' motivations to engage with ODPs in a time when restrictions were in place. To explore users' motivations and the impact COVID-19 had on their online dating experiences during the pandemic semi-structured interviews (N = 12) were conducted in the UK during December 2020-July 2021. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Motivations for using ODPs during the pandemic included addressing negative emotions such as loneliness, but, crucially, they became a necessity for meeting new people and making romantic and non-romantic connections in a time of social isolation. Lockdowns had negative effects on creating and sustaining online connections; however, where online connections were made, lockdowns restricted contact through social distancing and tier systems, limiting the ability to progress a relationship by moving it offline. Online interactions provided a relationship building foundation; however, there was ultimately a need to move the interaction offline in order for the relationship to develop. Findings related to motivations fit with prior literature; however, there was a shift in priorities, with importance being placed on online spaces to meet social needs that were limited due to the pandemic. ODPs were important for society, they provided a space for connection and socialising, which was vital in helping people navigate the solitude of lockdown.
... Amid the pandemic, however, it remains unclear whether travel intentions can be predicted because of the behaviours and interactions users have facilitated inside the application. Inside Tinder, users present themselves using profiles to earn matches from likeminded users to facilitate interactions and relationships (Kallis, 2020). Users mimic social cues such as small talks, intimacies and at times courtships with the end goal of building communities, friendships or romantic relationships (Petrychyn et al., 2020). ...
... Tinder users construct lasting impressions through continuous self-disclosure which leads to relationships (Ward, 2016). Despite emergent findings in Tinder Tourism literature suggesting that some users had no intention of meeting their online counterparts (James et al., 2019), Tinder is still considered as a temporary space where users interact before they gain motivation to conduct physical encounters with other users (Kallis, 2020;Miller, 2019;Timmermans and De Caluw e, 2017;Ward, 2017) or travel to the other user's destination (Leurs and Hardy, 2019). In this vein, this paper aims to investigate how users who remain at home amid global lockdowns develop travel intentions because of in-app interactions. ...
Purpose
This paper determines how travel intentions can be predicted using self-disclosure behaviour, trust and intimacy. This case study focuses on Tinder users who utilised the application's Passport feature which allowed them to travel virtually and interact with other users around the globe amid global travel restrictions.
Design/methodology/approach
This quantitative research conveniently sampled 294 Tinder users who used the Passport feature during COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns. Data were analysed using PLS-SEM.
Findings
This study revealed that self-disclosure had a significant influence towards future travel intentions. Findings show that the more users self-disclose, the more their intent to travel increase. Trust and intimacy also had significant relationship on travel intentions while intimacy had a mediating effect between self-disclosure and travel intentions.
Practical implications
Tourism-oriented establishments and destination marketers should consider Tinder users as a market segment of future tourists. These users have developed travel intentions through in-app interactions and thus comprise an untapped market of potential tourists seeking for meet-ups and niche experiences in a post-pandemic era.
Originality/value
This study provides novelty in showing the predictive relationship of self-disclosure, trust and intimacy towards travel intentions. A model consisting of these constructs in the context of online interactions was also empirically tested and found adequate to predict travel intentions.
... Online dating implicates both online sexual behaviors (e.g. sexting, search for partners, viewing and sharing intimate pictures) and real-life encounters as risky behaviors (Shapiro et al., 2017;Bonilla-Zorita et al., 2020;Kallis, 2020;Sumter et al., 2017;Bonner-Thompson, 2020). There was an expressed need for investigating POD and its consequences (Bloom & Dillman Taylor, 2020;Bonilla-Zorita et al., 2020), the direct impact of SM (Instagram, Facebook) on sexuality (Ward, 2016), and the impact of online sexual behaviors on sexuality (Attwood et al., 2019;Goldsmith et al., 2017). ...
... A study focusing on women's sexual well-being determined that being in a committed relationship, having exclusive sex, having greater sexual agency, and having stronger desire all play a role in sexual well-being (Kaestle & Evans, 2017). However, online dating apps are known for leading to casual sex (Kallis, 2020;Sumter et al., 2017;Bonner-Thompson, 2020;van de Wiele & Tong, 2014), and choice overload on online dating apps was shown to increase rejection of potential partners (Pronk & Denissen, 2020). With online dating, it is easier than ever to meet new potential partners, and it was shown to facilitate the desire for long term commitment (Sharabi & Timmermans, 2020), but this doesn't guarantee sexual relationships to be satisfying. ...
The aim of this study was to investigate the connection of problematic online dating (POD), problematic social media (PSM), and problematic online sexual behaviors (POSB), with body esteem and sexuality. Previous research focused either on the impact of media on body esteem, or the impact of body esteem on sexuality. Yet, online media tends to be sexually self-objectifying, requiring more studies on their impact on body esteem and sexuality. In this study, a sample of 825 participants aged between 18 and 54 years old (M = 25, SD = 9.7), with 80% female participants, completed an online survey assessing POD, PSM, POSB, sex addiction, cognitive distractions during sexual intercourse, body esteem, sexual desire, sexual esteem, sexual depression, and sexual preoccupation. POD, PSM, and POSB were significantly correlated (r = 0.14, r = 0.35, r = 0.18). POD was linked to sexual depression (β = 0.10, p < 0.001), PSM was linked to body esteem (β = − 0.17, p < 0.001) and to cognitive distractions (β = 0.19, p < 0.001), and POSB was linked to sexual esteem (β = 0.14, p < 0.001). The mediation model indicated a significant indirect effect of body esteem and cognitive distractions between PSM and sexual depression (β = 0.15, Z = 4.39, p < 0.001), and for PSM and sexual esteem (β = − 0.13, Z = − 3.78, p < 0.001). This study highlighted the importance of studying outcomes of POD, PSM, and POSB on real-life sexual experiences, and to what extent body esteem and cognitive distractions were implicated. Further research is necessary on the impact of POD on sexual well-being and use of online sexual activities in diverse SM platforms.
... Dating apps are used for various reasons, including, to find a romantic or casual sex partner, to improve one's self-worth, or for mere entertainment (Kallis, 2020;Sumter et al., 2017). While some of these motivations, such as seeking entertainment, also motivate other forms of media use (e.g., social media use; Rodgers et al., 2021), the motivation to find a romantic or casual sex partner is uniquely associated with the use of dating apps (Sumter et al., 2017). ...
Intrinsic (i.e., personality traits) and extrinsic mate value (i.e., resources, physical attractiveness) preferences play a crucial role in (online) relationship formation. The role of mate values in dating applications was unclear and was addressed in a multi-method study. A first content analytical study examined the prevalence of mate values (MVs) on Tinder profiles (Study 1) and two subsequent cross-sectional studies explored the relationships between dating app use, various swiping behaviors, sexual satisfaction (Studies 2–3), need satisfaction with matches (Study 3), having a committed relationship versus casual sex motivation for using dating apps and users’ gender. The content analysis of 307 Tinder profiles indicated that resources and physical attractiveness were most salient in biographies and pictures, respectively. The first cross-sectional study (nfullsample = 325, ndating app users = 133) revealed no significant relationships between dating app frequency/swiping frequency, intrinsic and extrinsic MV preferences, and sexual satisfaction. The second cross-sectional study (n = 323) showed no significant relationships between picture-based or biography-based swiping, intrinsic and extrinsic MV preferences, and need satisfaction with matches. Gender differences emerged in the presentation of MVs on Tinder (Study 1) and general MV preferences (Study 2–3), but not in the relationships between different types of dating app use/swiping and MV preferences (Study 2–3). A committed relationship and a casual sex motivation played a role in the relationships between different types of swiping behaviors and MV preferences, and between MV preferences, and sexual satisfaction/need satisfaction with matches.
... Indeed, college students are twice as likely as non-college students to use these platforms (Smith & Duggan, 2013). Of existing dating applications, Tinder is most often used among this population (Berkowitz et al., 2021), and is cited as being a platform especially conducive for "hooking up" 1 (Kallis, 2020;Lundquist & Curington, 2019). With over half of college students reporting participation in "hook up culture" (Heldman & Wade, 2010), the application's popularity among college students is unsurprising. ...
... This result is surprising given that online dating applications convey aesthetically pleasing visual (e.g., attractive pictures) and emotive verbal (e.g., flirtatious messages) cues that evoke fun and enjoyment, potentially stimulating continuous adoption. Plausibly, this is attributed to different motivations for online dating activities: entertainment versus meaningful connection (Kallis, 2020). Our result retrospectively suggests that young Malaysians' primary basis for continuously using online dating applications is not purely to pursue pleasure and entertainment. ...
Romance has never felt the same way since the inception of online dating. A match is made not in Heaven but in the Cloud. Swiping profiles could sweep someone’s feet off. This work aims to assess the factors predicting the continuous use intention of online dating applications among young Malaysians through the lens of the UTAUT2 model and privacy risk. The research model was analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling per 282 valid responses from online daters in Malaysia. The results indicate the model’s substantial predictive power with social influence, price value, and habit as significant drivers to continuous use intention of online dating applications. Habit has the strongest effect on the intention to use online dating applications continuously. This research adds to the body of knowledge on the behavioral intention of online dating applications and offers practical suggestions for online dating service providers to increase the likelihood of their continuous adoption.
... We started from the categorization of user motives into relational, intrapersonal, and entertainment goals (Sumter and Vandenbosch, 2019). Similarly, others summarized user motivations as relationship seeking, ego-boost, and entertainment (Ward, 2016) or into connection and entertainment (Kallis, 2020). We tested the effects of receiving matches on a relational-, an intrapersonal-, and an entertainment-related goal, namely loneliness, fear of being single, and partner choice overload. ...
Swipe-based dating apps characteristically provide quantitative social feedback in the form of mattches. Surveys suggest a link between dating app success and well-being, but the nature of this correlation has yet to be examined. In an experiment with 125 undergraduate women, we manipulated dating app feedback: When accepting a profile, participants had either a high (27/31) or a low chance (3/31) of receiving matches. We found no effect of chance of matches on women’s loneliness or fear of being single. However, a higher chance of matches led to higher partner choice overload. Furthermore, in those who accepted seven or more profiles, women in the low chance of matches condition reported higher loneliness than women in the high chance of matches condition. This could mean that matches are rewarding for women with a high approach orientation. Manipulating social feedback in a dating app paradigm seems suitable to study the effects of social acceptance and ostracism.
... Cel i motywacje korzystania z aplikacji nie ograniczają się do poszukiwania związku. użytkownicy korzystają z Tindera także w poszukiwaniu jednorazowych przygód seksualnych (one night stands, Ons), przyjacielskich relacji seksualnych (friends with benefits, Fwb), przyjaźni i znajomości, partnerów do podróży, rozrywki i możliwości zabicia nudy, wzmocnienia poczucia własnej wartości (Cohen 2015;kallis 2020;leFebvre 2017;Timmermans i Courtois 2018;Orosz i in. 2018). ...
... This result is surprising given that online dating applications convey aesthetically pleasing visual (e.g., attractive pictures) and emotive verbal (e.g., flirtatious messages) cues that evoke fun and enjoyment, potentially stimulating continuous adoption. Plausibly, this is attributed to different motivations for online dating activities: entertainment versus meaningful connection (Kallis, 2020). Our result retrospectively suggests that young Malaysians' primary basis for continuously using online dating applications is not purely to pursue pleasure and entertainment. ...
... Indeed, college students are twice as likely as non-college students to use these platforms (Smith & Duggan, 2013). Of existing dating applications, Tinder is most often used among this population (Berkowitz et al., 2021), and is cited as being a platform especially conducive for "hooking up" 1 (Kallis, 2020;Lundquist & Curington, 2019). With over half of college students reporting participation in "hook up culture" (Heldman & Wade, 2010), the application's popularity among college students is unsurprising. ...
The increased connectivity on mobile platforms – including dating applications – is associated with increased risks of victimization both online and in-person. The current study explores the role of dating applications in shaping the risk(s) of victimization. Using a sample of college students (N = 324), we examine the relationship between low self-control and victimization (online and in-person), and the mediating effect of risky behavior, finding that low self-control is associated with in-person victimization, although partially mediated by risky behavior. Low self-control was not a significant predictor for cybervictimization. We also discern gendered effects in both engagement of risky behaviors and experiences of victimization.
... In some parts of the UK, the number of crimes involving dating apps doubled from 2015 to 2018 (refinery29.com). This is partly due to the fact that dating app users are also seeking to establish physical, face-to-face relationships after they are connected online (Kallis, 2020). For example, Queiroz et al. (Queiroz, de Sousa, Brignol, Araújo, & Reis, 2019) found that a 'high prevalence of HIV was observed among MSM [men who have sex with men] 50 years of age and older who use dating apps'. ...
The potential abuse of dating applications (apps), including during the current lockdowns due to COVID-19, has resulted in a growing community of research to learn to what extent the impacts of these apps have on the individual's psychological and physiological being, as well as the presumed security of their sensitive information. In this paper, we seek to review the existing literature that encompasses the issues surrounding dating apps. Specifically, we focus on crimes that can occur from the use of dating apps, potential mitigation strategies, the physiological and psychological effects on not only the general population, but also minority groups, and lastly, an assessment on the associated cybersecurity risks and potential digital artifacts of interest in criminal investigations. Although research on dating apps will continue to struggle with the ever-changing technological landscape, it is important to examine best practices and mitigation strategies that dating app developers can utilize to create safer platforms. Finally, we conclude this paper with a number of potential research opportunities.
In dieser Thesis wurde die Beziehung zwischen der Nutzung der Dating-App Tinder, dem Selbstwert und dem Grad der Selbstobjektifizierung mittels quantitativer Forschungsmethoden untersucht. Basierend auf Interaktions- und Medienforschungstheorien sowie Kenntnissen zu Online Dating und den Konstrukten Selbstwert und Selbstobjektifizierung wurden Hypothesen formuliert. Erwartet wurde ein niedrigeres Level an Selbstwert und ein höheres Niveau an Selbstobjektifizierung von Tinder-Nutzer*innen bzw. Viel-Nutzer*innen im Gegensatz zu Nicht- bzw. Wenig-Nutzer*innen der Applikation. Zudem wurde von einer durch Selbstobjektifizierung mediierten Beziehung zwischen Tindernutzung und Selbstwert ausgegangen. Es wurden 232 Personen, bestehend aus 92 Tinder-Nutzer*innen und 140 Nicht-Nutzer*innen, anhand eines standardisierten Fragebogens befragt. Die Hypothesen wurden mittels dem Zwei-Stichproben-t-Test, der Spearmans Rangkorrelation, der ANOVA und einer Mediations- bzw. Regressionsanalyse überprüft. Die Ergebnisse dieser Studie deuten darauf hin, dass keinerlei negative Beziehung zwischen dem Trait-Selbstwert und Tindernutzung besteht. Darüber hinaus konnte kein signifikanter Unterschied im Grad der Selbstobjektifizierung zwischen Tindernutzer*innen und Nicht-Nutzer*innen beobachtet werden. Jedoch war ein signifikanter positiver Zusammenhang zwischen monatlicher Nutzung und Selbstobjektifizierung festzustellen. Durch Post-hoc-Regressions-Analysen konnte die positive Beziehung zwischen monatlicher Nutzung und Selbstobjektifizierung nach Kontrolle der Variablen Alter und Geschlecht weiterhin bestätigt werden. Die Analysen zum Zusammenhang zwischen Selbstwert und Tindernutzung blieben wie bisher nicht signifikant. Angesichts der Limitationen bedarf es hierbei weiterer Forschung. An der pädagogischen Praxis ist es, die Medienkompetenz im Allgemeinen und die Online-Dating-Kompetenz im Speziellen zu fördern, um einen verantwortungsvollen und reflektierten Umgang zu ermöglichen.
This paper analyses Danish Tinder chats that in the very first message after ‘matching’ immediately launch the prospect of meeting. A collection of 41 threads is analyzed using Goffman’s ( 1967 , 1974 ) concepts of face and interactional framing, outlining methods participants use to open a chat after having matched and addressing the interest and purpose they have approached in the other party. Methods include, in particular, inferences that can be made based on the type of activity or setting suggested for a future meeting, indirectness and ambiguity related to how the social actions are designed, and the conversational cues used such as emojis and enthusiasm markers. The analysis also shows how participants work out and negotiate whether they have a common interest in meeting, in particular, how they exploit and deal with ambiguities used extensively as a mechanism for flirting. The analysis further suggests that practices adhere to gender-stereotypes showing how participants may handle and orient to a norm that women should not agree to meet with a stranger early on in a chat correspondence.
Smartphone-based dating applications like Grindr are popular among men who have sex with men (MSM), and it is common for MSM to engage in sexual activity with other users. Despite this, there is limited research on MSM's negotiations of consent for online sexual interactions and in-person sexual encounters. This study examined MSM's understandings and practices of consent on dating apps and in person. Interpretative phenomenological analysis of 25 interviews with MSM dating app users revealed that many participants could identify key aspects of consent but did not always apply those understandings to their own practices. For online sexual interactions, some participants viewed consent as connecting to a dating app - a practice I term "clickable consent" - while other participants viewed consent as continuous and communicated consent in explicit and implicit ways. Although all participants negotiated consent online in preparation for an in-person sexual encounter, some renegotiated consent in person with explicit or non-explicit communication, while others did not renegotiate consent in person. Results shed light on how MSM's online conversations impact their in-app and in-person sexual activities, and reveal challenges that MSM face in digital and physical spaces. Conclusions, implications, and suggestions for future research are discussed further.
This chapter analyses the role of smartphones in people’s emotional and relationship dynamics. Several central dimensions will be explored, referring to the relationship between mobile technologies and intimacy, especially focusing on practices like flirting via social network platforms, using online dating apps and sexting. The analysis outlines that smartphones can be fruitfully interpreted as ‘infrastructures of intimacy’, connecting up closely to people’s emotional lives. Thus, the chapter addresses how the smartphone intertwines with everyday experiences connected to intimacy and relationships and how users elaborate different interpretations of what intimacy is according to the differences characterising the diverse online platforms they use daily.
In this study, the researcher intends to find out how the process of developing interpersonal relationships that are woven virtually but can be maintained to a serious level. Researching a relationship that started from an online meeting on the matchmaking application (Tinder), interacted, and then decided to get married. The purpose of this research is to find out how the process of developing interpersonal relationships that are carried out virtually through a matchmaking app until they both make it to the stage of marriage. In this study, the researcher used a qualitative descriptive study using a phenomenological approach that was initiated by Husserl. The results of this study found that there was social penetration or the process of exchanging information carried out by Tinder users with their partners around the layers of their respective personalities in-depth such as peeling the skins of onions (layers of an onion) during the relationship development process and the process of self-disclosure between users and their partners on Tinder. This study was written using the Van Kaam analysis technique. The results of this study found that there was a relationship development process in which there was a process of social penetration and self-disclosure between key informants and informants in this study during an online relationship on Tinder until they decided to get married.
Az ember társas lény, a digitális világ pedig újabbnál újabb megoldásokat kínál arra, hogy a felhasználók internetes felületen találják meg az ideális társat. Az információs társadalomban az online párkeresés jelenségéről és lehetőségéről mindenki tud, azonban a felhasználók közül csak kevesen beszélnek róla nyíltan, gátlások nélkül. Milyen veszélyekkel járhat a túlzott társkeresőalkalmazás-használat és a kevésbé biztonságtudatos attitűd? Lehetnek- e hatással a tárkereső alkalmazásokon közétett személyes adatok a leendő hivatásos állomány tagjainak karrierútjaira? Kutatásom során főként ezekre a kérdésekre kerestem a választ, amelynek során a Nemzeti Közszolgálati Egyetem tisztjelölt és civil hallgatóinak hozzáállását vizsgáltam, többek között információbiztonsági szempontból. A tanulmánnyal fel szeretném hívni a leendő közszférában dolgozó, társkereső alkalmazásokat igénybe vevő felhasználók figyelmét az adatbiztonság jelentőségére, a biztonságos attitűd fontosságára, és arra, hogy karrierjük előtt igazán érdemes körültekintően és megfontoltan dönteni a saját magukról publikált adatokkal kapcsolatban, különös tekintettel az esetleges visszaélések alapját képező különleges adatokra.
Tinder, a mobile dating application (app), facilitates the initiation of new, potentially romantic relationships and promotes itself as a social discovery platform dominating the U.S. with 1.4 billion swipes per day. This exploratory study investigates how people engage in relationship initiation behaviors through Tinder and highlights how interpersonal relationship initiation, selection processes, and strategic pre-interaction behaviors are evolving through contemporary-mediated dating culture. Participants (N = 395) were recruited from Amazon’s Mechanical Turk to complete an online survey about their Tinder usage. The study employed descriptive statistics and thematic analysis to analyze reasons for selecting and deleting Tinder, pre-interaction processes, swiping strategies, and Tinder hookup culture. The prevalent view that Tinder is a sex, or hookup app, remains salient among users; although, many users utilize Tinder for creating other interpersonal communication connections and relationships, both romantic and platonic. Initially, Tinder users gather information to identify their preferences. Their strategies show clear implications for explicating the relationship development model and associated information pursuing strategies. Overall, this study argues that new emergent technologies are changing how interpersonal relationship initiation functions; the traditional face-to-face relationship development models and initiation conceptualizations should be modified to include the introduction of the pre-interaction processes apparent in mobile dating applications such as Tinder.
Mobile dating applications such as Tinder have exploded in popularity in recent years. On Tinder, impression management begins with a motivation to download the app, the choice of one’s profile photos and an assessment of the expectations of potential Tinder matches. These processes occur in a technologically mediated environment of reduced cues and increased control, local proximity and a reduced filtering process. My focus in this paper is this first stage of impression management, which consists of both impression motivation and impression construction. Specifically, what are the pre-match impression management practices of Tinder users? I present the results of interviews with Tinder users in the Netherlands. Participants were recruited via a Tinder profile that advertised the study using the University emblem and a brief description. Interview questions focused on user understandings of self-presentation practices and profile construction. The interviews also examined how users evaluated their potential matches. Results show users’ motivations for using Tinder range from entertainment to ego-boost to relationship seeking, and these motivations sometimes change over time. Profile photos are selected in an attempt to present an ideal yet authentic self, and chosen as an illustration of not only one’s desirability but also of other indicators such as education level. Tinder users ‘swipe’ not only in search of people they like, but also for clues as to how to present themselves in order to attract others like them. This research offers insight into user experiences and perceptions within the still under-researched area of inquiry.
The current research used uncertainty management theory (UMT) as a framework to examine individuals’ experience of uncertainty within the context of Grindr, an all- male, location-based mobile dating application. In two studies, we first investigated the particular concerns associated with Grindr use. Results indicated that the unique affordances of Grindr generated six categories of user concerns associated with use of the mobile application. The second study confirmed that a specific set of user goals and concerns predicted daters’ desire for uncertainty, which in turn predicted information- seeking behavior. Findings clearly indicate that Grindr users’ responses to uncertainty were not limited to simple reduction strategies, but were dependent upon their desire for and tolerance of uncertainty in relation to their goals and concerns of application use. The current results also help to establish UMT’s predictive power and explanatory utility within the realm of interpersonal communication.
One pervasive use of the Grindr mobile application is the initiation and accomplishment of pseudonymous sexual encounters between gay strangers based on location awareness. Not only are such encounters oriented towards quasi-immediate sexual gratification, but they are collaboratively done so as to preclude repeat encounters and relational development, with the protagonists supposedly left unaffected emotionally, relationally and socially by their meeting. This creates a rather special-and analytically interesting-interactional dilemma when Grindr users initiate a social contact with potential partners, usually through the chat function integrated into the mobile app. The paper describes the way Grindr users have developed a particular 'linguistic ideology' which casts ordinary conversation as an interactional activity which is performed between (potential) friends and enables relational development. As thus, it is unsuitable for one-time sexual encounters, the production of which is a distinctive and accountable interactional accomplishment. This paper analyzes the special interactional practices based on profile-matching sequences which Grindr
People-nearby applications" (PNAs) are a form of ubiquitous computing that connect users based on their physical location data. One example is Grindr, a popular PNA that facilitates connections among gay and bisexual men. Adopting a uses and gratifications approach, we conducted two studies. In study one, 63 users reported motivations for Grindr use through open-ended descriptions. In study two, those descriptions were coded into 26 items that were completed by 525 Grindr users. Factor analysis revealed six uses and gratifications: social inclusion, sex, friendship, entertainment, romantic relationships, and location-based search. Two additional analyses examine (1) the effects of geographic location (e.g., urban vs. suburban/rural) on men's use of Grindr and (2) how Grindr use is related to self-disclosure of information. Results highlight how the mixed-mode nature of PNA technology may change the boundaries of online and offline space, and how gay and bisexual men navigate physical environments.
Social media is a critical area of interest for marketing scholars and practitioners. Recent research has shown that 88% of marketers are using social media and that they are spending over $60 billion annually on social media advertising (Gil-Or, 2010; Smith, 2011). Successfully making contact with consumers via social media is predicted to show great returns for marketers in the coming years (Okazaki, Katsukura, & Nishiyama, 2007). Despite the importance of social media, there is little understanding of how and why consumers use social media.
Uses and gratifications theory, which has its roots in the communications literature, can be an integral part of developing better scales and measurement instruments for social media marketers. The basic premise of uses and gratifications theory is that individuals seek out media that fulfill their needs and leads to ultimate gratification (Lariscy, Tinkham, & Sweetser, 2011). Uses and gratifications theory has specific relevance to social media, but it has not been given prominence in the marketing and social media literature. Therefore this paper seeks to apply uses and gratifications theory to help explain why consumers use social media. In particular, this research seeks to (1) demonstrate the importance of uses and gratifications theory to social media, (2) to apply uses and gratifications theory to social media, and (3) to identify the uses and gratifications that consumers receive from using social media. By applying uses and gratifications theory, this research seeks to provide a better and more comprehensive understanding of why consumers use social media.
We begin by briefly summarizing the literature on social media and uses and gratifications theory. Next, we describe the methodology used and the research findings. Last, the article discusses the implications and conclusions of the current research.
In this manuscript we explore the ways in which the marketplace metaphor resonates with online dating participants and how this conceptual framework influences how they assess themselves, assess others, and make decisions about whom to pursue. Taking a metaphor approach enables us to highlight the ways in which participants’ language shapes their self-concept and interactions with potential partners. Qualitative analysis of in-depth interviews with 34 participants from a large online dating site revealed that the marketplace metaphor was salient for participants, who employed several strategies that reflected the assumptions underlying the marketplace perspective (including resisting the metaphor). We explore the implications of this metaphor for romantic relationship development, such as the objectification of potential partners.
Users have adopted a wide range of digital technologies into their communication repertoire. It remains unclear why they adopt multiple forms of communication instead of substituting one medium for another. It also raises the question: What type of need does each of these media fulfill? In the present article, the authors conduct comparative work that examines the gratifications obtained from Facebook with those from instant messaging. This comparison between media allows one to draw conclusions about how different social media fulfill user needs. Data were collected from undergraduate students through a multimethod study based on 77 surveys and 21 interviews. A factor analysis of gratifications obtained from Facebook revealed six key dimensions: pastime, affection, fashion, share problems, sociability, and social information. Comparative analysis showed that Facebook is about having fun and knowing about the social activities occurring in one’s social network, whereas instant messaging is geared mor
This study employs a uses and gratifications approach to explore how social network sites (SNS) users' attachment style influences SNS motives, SNS use, and related psychological outcomes, as well as the interrelationships of these factors. By modifying preexisting attachment styles, users were classified into four styles: (1) fearful-avoidant, (2) dismissive-avoidant, (3) secure, and (4) anxious-ambivalent. Findings show SNS use and SNS-related outcomes differ across attachment style groups, although SNS motive does not; and attachment style moderates the influences of SNS motive and SNS use on psychological outcomes. These findings imply potential consequences of SNS use can substantially differ depending on users' attachment style.
(Para)normal activity: Ghosting as a means of exiting a romantic relationship. Paper presented at the National Communication Association Conference
- L D Scott
15% of American adults have used online dating sites or mobile dating apps
- A Smith
The Tinder dating pool isn’t completely shallow
- B L Foster
Tinder initiation messages
- B Seefeldt