See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

net/publication/336495952

Dating Apps

Article · October 2019

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-59531-3_19-1

CITATIONS READS

0 4,689

1 author:

Treena Orchard
The University of Western Ontario
94 PUBLICATIONS   704 CITATIONS   

SEE PROFILE

Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects:

Ethnography of teenage experience among Naskapi of Kawawachikamach, Quebec View project

India, HIV, and Devadasi Sex work View project

All content following this page was uploaded by Treena Orchard on 13 October 2019.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

D

Dating Apps Introduction

Treena Orchard Dating apps emerged in 2003 and became increas-

School of Health Studies, University of Western ingly popular between 2007 and 2008 (Quinoz,
Ontario, London, ON, Canada 2013) with the introduction of Apple iPhone and
the first App Store. The most popular apps in the
USA by audience size are Tinder, Plenty of Fish,
Synonyms Match.com, and OkCupid. In terms of user
engagement (hours per day on app), the gay
Dating platform; Dating site; Digital dating; Tech- men’s platform Grindr tops the list, followed by
mediated dating; Textual romance Tinder, OkCupid, and Bumble. Most apps offer
free and paid options, which are more user-
friendly and offer additional features that make
Definition the dating experience more fruitful.
To begin the process, users download a dating
Dating apps are software applications designed to app onto their smartphone and then set up a pro-
generate connections between people who are file. The profile involves posting several photos
interested in romance, casual sex, or friendship. (often between three and six), writing a brief
Downloaded onto mobile phones, they feature blurb, and selecting different variables that are
algorithms based on factors like age, gender of used to generate potential matches (i.e., age, gen-
user and desired partner, and the distance users der, geographic range). Some dating apps have
will travel to meet one another. Many apps also additional questions to complete and options for
access information from social media platforms users to choose from, which are designed to pro-
like Facebook to create prospective romantic duce more fine-tuned matches. Once this informa-
matches. Dating apps run on Wi-Fi or data and tion is entered, the algorithm generates a selection
use real-time geo-social information to update of profiles that align with their chosen criteria.
user profiles, which distinguishes them from Users then review them and decide if they like
more traditional online dating sites that recirculate (right swipe) or dislike (left swipe) the individuals
the original information input into user profiles to selected for them. If both parties have swiped right
generate matches. These applications make dating or favorably reviewed one another, a match is
experience mobile and ever-changing, and over made and opening conversations can proceed.
ninety-one million people worldwide are cur- Dating apps offer a plethora of choice, are
rently using one or more dating apps. driven by ever-changing variables, and coincide
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2019
A. D. Lykins (ed.), Encyclopedia of Sexuality and Gender,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-59531-3_19-1
2 Dating Apps

with the acceptance of increasingly diverse gender received the most scholarly and social media
and sexual identities (i.e., non-binary, gender- attention; however, other apps like Bumble are
neutral, polyamorous, pansexual). They have also being explored (Orchard, 2019).
also emerged during a time when marriage rates
are declining and the stigma associated with being
single is dissolving, especially for women. Dating
Conclusion
apps are revolutionizing how people of all ages
and orientations experience romance, sex, and
Dating apps are transforming sexuality and inti-
relationships. Indeed, some argue that after mar-
mate relationships in profound ways. They can
riage, dating apps have had the most profound
enable fun, empowering connections to be formed
impact on human sexuality and mate selection
between individuals who likely would not have
processes. Although they are used by millions of
met any other way. Yet the fleeting, inconsistent
people globally, recent evidence suggests that
nature of these pairings can often leave users
users are experiencing “dating app fatigue”
feeling deeply unsatisfied with what the contem-
because of the impermanence, instability, and
porary digital landscape has to offer regarding
objectification that characterize dating
romance and meaningful sociosexual experi-
app culture. The ability of users to track their
ences. It is uncertain what the next generation of
matches’ location through GIS technology has
dating applications will look like, but researchers
also been raised as an important concern, mainly
and computing specialists are collaborating in
in relation to privacy and safety.
greater numbers to carve out a niche in this com-
petitive, lucrative market.
Research

Dating apps are fast becoming a prominent focus References

for quantitative and qualitative scholars from var-
ious disciplines. Some of the first studies focused Albury, K., Burgess, J., Light, B., Race, K., & Wilken,
R. (2017). Data cultures of mobile dating and hook-up
on young heterosexual populations and the links apps: Emerging issues for critical social science
between dating apps and hook-up culture and research. Big Data & Society, 4(2), 1–11. https://doi.
harmful outcomes like sexually transmitted infec- org/10.1177/2053951717720950
tions, extreme forms of sexual objectification, and Choi, E., Wong, J., & Fong, D. (2017). The use of social
networking applications of smartphone and associated
psychological stress (Albury, Burgess, Light, sexual risks in lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender
Race, & Wilken, 2017; Dai, Wombacher, Jacob, populations: A systematic review. AIDS Care, 29(2),
& Harrington, 2017; Enomoto, Noor, & Widner, 145–155. https://doi.org/10.1080/09540121.2016.
2017). Subsequent studies have explored the com- 1211606
Dai, M., Wombacher, K., Jacob, J., & Harrington,
plex sociocultural and individual factors that N. (2017). Using the integrative model of behavioral
motivate people to use dating apps and people’s prediction to understand college students’ hookup sex
divergent experiences using these platforms rela- beliefs, intentions, and behavior. Health Communication,
tive to issues of sexuality, digital intimacy, toxic 33(9), 1078–1087. https://doi.org/10.1080/10410236.
2017.1331306
masculinity, and gender (David & Cambre, 2016; David, G., & Cambre, C. (2016). Screened intimacies:
Duguay, 2017; Farvid & Aisher, 2016; Hess & Tinder and the swipe logic. Social Media + Society,
Flores, 2016; Mason, 2016). Others have 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1177/2056305116641976
employed innovative methodologies that reveal Duguay, S. (2017). Dressing up Tinderella: Interrogating
authenticity claims on the mobile dating app tinder. Infor-
the power of space and location, two key variables mation, Communication & Society, 20(3), 351–367.
in dating app culture, in the production of queer https://doi.org/10.1080/1369118X.2016.1168471
identities and other specialized sexual subcultures Enomoto, C., Noor, S., & Widner, B. (2017). Is social media
(Choi, Wong, & Fong, 2017; Miles, 2017). As the to blame for the sharp rise in STDs? Social Sciences,
6(3), 78. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci6030078
leading industry giants, Tinder and Grindr have
Dating Apps 3

Farvid, P., & Aisher, K. (2016). It’s just a lot more casual: Culture, 24(11), 1595–1610. https://doi.org/10.1080/
Young heterosexual Women’s experiences of using tin- 0966369X.2017.1340874
der in New Zealand. Ada: A Journal of Gender, New Orchard, T. (2019). To be a man-eater: Embodied aspira-
Media, and Technology, 10. https://adanewmedia. tions, tensions, and lessons from the bumble dating
org/2016/10/issue10-farvid-aisher/ app. Keynote address at talking bodies: An interna-
Hess, A., & Flores, C. (2016). Simply more than swiping left: tional, interdisciplinary conference on identity, sexual-
A critical analysis of toxic masculine performances on ity, and representation in Chester, UK (Apr. 10-13,
Tinder Nightmares. New Media & Society, 20(3), 2019).
1085–1102. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444816681540 Quinoz, P. (2013). From finding the perfect love online to
Mason, C. (2016). Tinder and humanitarian hook-ups: The satellite dating and ‘loving-the- one-You’re near’: A look
erotics of social media racism. Feminist Media Review, at Grindr, Skout, plenty of fish, meet Moi, Zoosk and
16(5), 822–837. https://doi.org/10.1080/14680777.2015. assisted serendipity. Humanity & Society, 37(2), 181–185.
1137339 https://doi.org/10.1177/0160597613481727
Miles, S. (2017). Sex in the digital city: Location-based
dating apps and queer urban life. Gender, Place &

View publication stats