OK Cupid, Stop Bumbling around and Match Me Tinder: Using Dating Apps Across the Life Course.

Hannah R Marston,Kelly Niles-Yokum,Barbara Gomez,David M Lee,Sarah Earle

doi:10.1177/2333721420947498

Hannah R Marston, Kelly Niles-Yokum + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.1177/2333721420947498

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Abstract

Social connectedness, sex, and intimacy are all factors associated with positive aging, facing individuals in society across the life course. Phenomenal technological developments in the 21st century have led to the increased use of smartphones, mobile apps, and dating apps for a myriad of services, and engagements. This paper focuses on two specific cohorts’ who have the opportunity to engage with dating apps, older adults and young citizens with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions, and highlights issues related to the intersection of technology, societal constructions of age, disability, and online dating.

Highlights

Dating and relationships are an important part of a person’s life, health, wellbeing, and social connectedness
Relationships may be cut short due to illness or an unexpected death. This position paper aims to explores the use of dating apps by two distinct population groups: older adults (50+ years) and young people with life-threatening and/ or life-limited conditions (LLTC)
The structure of this position paper includes an overview of sex, intimacy and sexuality from the standpoint of the two populations, an overview of existing dating apps, coupled with a discussion surrounding the challenges and enablers to using dating apps in contemporary society

Summary

Introduction

Dating and relationships are an important part of a person’s life, health, wellbeing, and social connectedness. Relationships may be cut short due to illness or an unexpected death This position paper aims to explores the use of dating apps by two distinct population groups: older adults (50+ years) and young people with life-threatening and/ or life-limited conditions (LLTC). We take a life course perspective (Elder, 1985; Green, 2017; Hutchinson, 2018) to illustrate how older adults (50+ years) and young people with life-threatening and/or life-limited conditions (LLTC), in conjunction with the potential benefits, challenges, and risks associated to dating apps; while providing an understanding of sex, intimacy and sexuality in both older and younger adults.

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