Swiping against the norm: Pakistani women’s experiences on Bumble through a technofeminist lens

BackgroundUsers describe mobile dating apps as addictive, and researchers have attempted to formalize compulsive dating app use as a behavioral addiction. However, the concept of online dating addiction remains debated.ObjectiveThis systematic literature review synthesized quantitative research on problematized online dating behaviors with a specific focus on (1) definitions and measurement of problematic dating app use, (2) the examined adverse correlates, and (3) study designs.MethodsFrom 16 databases, we identified 263 reports related to problematic online dating. Twenty-nine papers—published between 2009 and 2024—met inclusion criteria. They covered 32 quantitative studies investigating problematic dating app use. Sample sizes varied between 64 and 4057, and participant ages ranged between 13 and 80 years, while many participants were aged between 18 and 35 years.ResultsResearchers problematized the following online dating behaviors (in descending order of frequency): use for certain motives (in 10 reports), problematic use in the sense of behavioral addiction (n=9), specific activities or experiences (n=9), compulsive use (n=6), a disbalance between offline and online interactions (too many or too few online interactions, n=4), and mere use or frequency (n=4). Even using dating apps for sexual motivations and relationship-seeking was linked to adverse correlates. Scholars have examined adverse correlates, including (1) mood and emotional issues (n=11), (2) anxieties (n=9), (3) user motives and other media variables (n=9), (4) undesired behaviors (n=8), (5) personality (n=8), (6) self-attitudes (n=7), (7) partner choice (n=5), (8) sexuality (n=5), and (9) interpersonal correlates (n=4). Methodologically, the most common scales (measuring use for certain motives and the 6-component behavioral addiction items) include life problems within their measurement of problematic dating app use (eg, use to forget problems and conflict due to use). Of 32 studies, only 3 were randomized experiments. All surveys measured dating app variables only at a single time point (cross-sectionally) and focused on between-person effects rather than within-person dynamics.ConclusionsResearch on user motives dominates the field. To understand harmful media effects, researchers should measure media use and harmful consequences separately. However, motives are often worded as coping with an undesired state (eg, use to forget problems) or enhancing a desired state (eg, use for self-esteem enhancement). Similarly, behavioral addiction scales include life problems (eg, conflict due to use). These scales thus conflate predictor and outcome. Future literature reviews or meta-analyses that examine associations should include only results of scales that validly distinguish media use from its adverse outcomes. Overall, research on internet dating addiction—and internet addiction in general—requires theoretically grounded definitions as well as experimental and longitudinal studies modeling between- and within-person effects.

To date, the literature regarding the relationship between drug consumption and dating app use is still very scant and inconclusive. The present study was thus aimed at investigating the association between drug consumption and dating app use in the general population. A total of 1278 Italian respondents completed an online ad hoc questionnaire assessing drug consumption (cannabis versus other illicit drugs), dating app use, the primary motive for installing dating apps, and demographics. Multiple logistic regression analyses were run to investigate the role of demographics and dating app use on drug consumption. Being single predicted cannabis use. Using dating apps accounted for higher odds of cannabis use; however, people who intensely used the apps were less likely to consume marijuana. Conversely, dating app use was not associated with the consumption of other drugs. This study suggests the presence of common underlying factors between dating app use and cannabis use, and it highlights the mediating role of the intensity of app use. Conversely, the study suggests that dating app use and the use of other drugs are quite independent behaviors.

Factors associated with dating app use for sexual "hookups" in the United States: insights from the National Survey of Family Growth.

IntroductionLiterature on the association between dating app use and sexual risk behaviors is still scant and inconclusive.AimTo investigate the association between dating app use and sexual risk behaviors, considering the role of motives for using them.Methods1,278 Italian respondents completed an online questionnaire assessing demographics, motives and patterns of dating app use, sexual behaviors and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) diagnoses. One-way ANOVA and Chi-squared analyses were used to investigate differences among the three subsamples (active vs former vs non-users). Multiple linear and logistic regression analyses were run to investigate the role of demographics, motives and patterns of dating app use on sexual risk taking and sexual health.Main outcome measuresNumber of protected and unprotected full sexual partners in the last year; frequency of hook-ups in the last year; STIs lifetime.ResultsActive users, even more than former app users, were more likely to report risky behaviors and STI diagnoses than non-users (χ2 = 26.37, P < .001). Installing the apps to find friends or romantic partners was associated with less protected (find friends B = −0.364, P = .015; find romantic partners B = −0.300, P = .006) and unprotected (find friends B = −0.346, P = .016; find romantic partners B = −0.360, P < .001) sexual intercourses. Installing the apps to find sexual partners predicted higher odds of unprotected sexual activity (B = 0.193, P = .048), hook-ups (B = 0.496, P < .001) and STIs diagnoses (OR = 2.835, P = .025). Accessing apps more frequently and more years of usage was associated with reporting risky sexual behaviors and STI diagnoses among active users (app access frequency OR = 1.461, P = .003; usage years OR = 1.089, P = .013).ConclusionInstalling the apps to search for sexual partners, using them at length since first installation and accessing them frequently are significant factors in influencing the association between dating app use and sexual risk behaviors. Flesia L, Fietta V, Foresta C, Monaro M. “What Are You Looking For?” Investigating the Association Between Dating App Use and Sexual Risk Behaviors. Sex Med 2021;9:100405.

BackgroundSmartphone-based dating apps are rapidly transforming how people seek potential sexual and romantic partners. However, they can also increase the risk of unsafe sexual behaviors, harassment, and infringement of personal privacy. Current research on interventions for safer dating app use remains insufficient.ObjectiveThe goal of this study was to describe the development of an intervention for safer dating app usage using crowdsourcing and peer-led approaches.MethodsThis paper describes the development of an intervention program designed to promote safer dating app use among college students. Crowdsourcing and peer-led approaches were adopted during key stages of the development process. Focus group discussions were held to assess the experience and needs of dating app users. A crowdsourcing contest then solicited ideas for performance objectives for the intervention. These objectives were grouped to further identify practical strategies. A one-day intensive workshop was subsequently held with peer mentors to brainstorm ideas for the production of creative interventional materials. The intervention programs were produced and tested in a pilot study. The app’s effectiveness will be evaluated in a cluster randomized controlled trial.ResultsThe intervention program consists of a risk assessment tool, a first-person scenario game, and four short videos. The risk assessment tool, comprised of 14 questions, will give the participant a score to determine their level of risk of adverse events when using dating apps. The scenario game is a first-person simulation game where the players are presented with choices when faced with different scenarios. The short videos each last 2-4 minutes, with points of discussion aimed at addressing the risks of using dating apps. The programs were piloted and were found to be relatable and helpful when further modifications were made.ConclusionsPotential challenges identified during the development process included data management and analysis, sustaining peer mentors’ interests and participation, and balancing between providing more information and perpetuating social stigma around dating app use. By integrating new approaches, such as crowdsourcing and the peer-led approach, in developing an intervention for safer dating app use, our development process provides a viable model for developing future interventions to address the risks associated with dating app use.

Social media and dating app use are differentially related to same- and next-day disordered eating pathology in young men with loss of control eating

BackgroundDating apps are virtual sociosexual networking platforms that facilitate varying social and sexual relationships and have considerably changed the way that many queer individuals form social, sexual, and romantic connections. Despite evidence that social media use can be associated with either diminished or improved mental health, few studies have explored the association between dating apps and mental health among queer adults.ObjectiveUsing reparative theory and a transformative paradigm, this research sought to critically explore the association between dating apps and mental health among queer adults in Canada..MethodsWe used a convergent mixed methods design comprising an online survey (N=250) and one-on-one interviews (subsample of n=22) among queer adults from across Canada. Participants were recruited using Grindr advertisements and selected for diverse identities. The survey and interview collected information on dating app use and mental health. A structural equation model assessed the association between dating app use and mental health symptoms and the mediating role of discrimination and community connectedness. Hybrid reflexive thematic analysis of interviews elucidated how power and marginalization are negotiated, resisted, and refused in everyday app use.ResultsParticipants used an average of 3.22 (SD 1.78) dating apps, most commonly for casual sex (208/249, 83.5%). Dating app use was associated with increased life satisfaction (β=0.31, 95% CI 0.32-1.12; P<.001) and self-esteem (β=0.21, 95% CI 0.04-0.38; P=.02) but not with depression (β=−0.16, 95% CI −0.33 to 0.02; P=.07) or anxiety (β=−0.11, 95% CI −0.45 to 0.10; P=.20). Discrimination and seeking social approval were associated with adverse mental health. Although seeking friendship was the least commonly reported motivation (98/249, 39.4%), interviewees described making friends unintentionally through intimate experiences. Increased community connection was associated with heightened life satisfaction (β=0.18, 95% CI 0.14-0.82; P=.01) and self-esteem (β=0.13, 95% CI 0.004-0.28; P=.04). Interviewees described managing negative impacts of use by adjusting expectations, using technological features to avoid unwanted interactions, and welcoming unexpected interactions in addition to their desired connections from use. Participant accounts of the inconsistent and evolving ways to use dating apps revealed the complex relationship between app use and well-being.ConclusionsQueer peoples use dating apps conscientiously, leveraging hope and serendipity to stumble upon novel and welcomed connections. Queer peoples use strategies to promote their well-being while navigating this threatening internet-based sociosexual space. The mixed methods approach provides nuance to the relationship between dating app use and well-being, underscoring the context-dependent and temporally dynamic association between them.

To date, the relationship between alcohol use and dating app use has been investigated mostly in conjunction with sexual activities and in homosexual men. For this reason, the aim of this study was to explore the association between dating app use and alcohol consumption among the general population. A cross-sectional study was conducted including app users, non-users, and former users: 1278 respondents completed an online ad hoc questionnaire assessing dating app use, motivations for installing dating apps, alcohol use, and demographics. Multiple logistic regression analysis was run to investigate the association between dating app use, demographic features, and alcohol consumption. Whereas educational level, age, and gender significantly contributed to the regular consumption of alcohol, dating app use did not account for a significant amount of variance between regular and not regular drinkers. However, people who installed and used dating apps with the motivation of searching for sexual partners were more likely to be regular drinkers. Among the active users, heavy app users were less likely to drink regularly. The study indicates that underlying factors (sexual aspects, motives for using the apps) and the intensity of using the apps may mediate the relationship between dating app use and alcohol use.

University campus clinics provide crucial sexual health services to students, including STI/HIV screening, testing, contraception, and counseling. These clinics are essential for engaging young adults who may lack access to primary care or have difficulty reaching off-campus services. Dating apps are widely used by young adults, yet there is a lack of studies on how they affect sexual practices. This study aimed to evaluate the use of dating apps, engagement in condomless sexual activity, and the prevalence of STIs among young adult college students in Northern Texas. A cross-sectional survey was conducted from August to December 2022 among undergraduate and graduate students aged 18-35 at a large university in Northern Texas. A total of 122 eligible participants completed the survey, which assessed demographics, sexual behaviors, dating app use, and STI/HIV testing practices. Descriptive statistics, bivariate analyses, and multivariate Poisson regression analyses with robust variance were performed to identify factors associated with dating app use and condomless sexual activity. Two-thirds of participants reported using dating apps. Significant differences were found between app users and non-users regarding demographic factors and unprotected sexual behaviors. Dating app users were more likely to report multiple sexual partners, inconsistent condom use, and a higher likelihood of engaging in unprotected sex. Poisson regression analysis indicated that app use was associated with residing in large urban areas, frequent use of campus STI/HIV screening services, and having multiple sexual partners (p < 0.05). The study highlights a significant association between dating app use and engagement in condomless sexual activity among college students. University health clinics play a critical role in providing sexual health services and can enhance their impact by expanding access to testing, contraception, and inclusive, sex-positive education. Future research should explore the long-term effects of dating app use on sexual health and evaluate the effectiveness of app-based interventions in promoting safer sexual practices.

This study explores associations between symptoms of social anxiety (SA) and depression with participants' extent of dating app use, self-reported motivations for dating app use, and likelihood of initiating interaction with dating app matches. Three-hundred seventy-four participants completed an online battery of surveys that examined psychopathology and dating app use. SA and depression symptoms were positively associated with participants' extent of dating app use, and symptoms of psychopathology and gender interacted to predict various dating app use motivations. Symptoms of SA and depression predicted lower likelihood of initiating contact with a dating app match among men but not women. This study provides an initial step toward understanding the relationship between SA, depression, and use of dating apps.

Risky sexual behaviors (RSBs) are a prevalent public health concern among adolescents and young adults. Dating apps, which are relatively new technological means to meet sexual partners, are on the rise among this population. However, the scientific literature is mixed regarding the association between the use of dating apps and RSBs, with most studies focusing exclusively on condom use. The present study examined the associations between dating app use and a comprehensive range of RSBs, as well as the moderating role of sexual satisfaction. Self-report questionnaires assessing the level of activity on dating apps, sexual satisfaction, and RSBs were completed by 342 adolescents and young adults. The results revealed significant positive associations between dating app use and a variety of RSBs. Sexual satisfaction was a significant moderator of the link between dating app use and impulsive sexual behaviors. Specifically, dating app use was positively associated with impulsive sexual behaviors at both low and high levels of sexual satisfaction, but more strongly so at low levels of sexual satisfaction. The findings highlight the importance of examining a wide variety of RSBs beyond condom use and have meaningful implications for the prevention of RSBs among youth.

BackgroundBody image concerns are prevalent and are viewed as risk factors for engaging in unhealthy weight control behaviors (UWCBs), such as purging, fasting, and the misuse of laxatives and diet pills. Studies have also linked UWCBs to the development of eating disorders. In the United States (U.S.), sexual minority men (e.g., bisexual, gay, and men who have sex with men) are prone to UWCBs often as a result of societal pressures to achieve certain standards of appearance – of which are often perpetuated through various media platforms. A growing number of studies have explored the possible role mobile dating applications (“dating apps”) play in contributing to UWCBs. To our knowledge, such studies have not explored this possible relationship between dating apps and UWCBs in sexual minority men (SMM). To fill this gap in the scientific literature, the present study assessed the association between dating app use and UWCBs and muscle enhancing behaviors among a sample of adult SMM in the U.S.Method549 SMM participated in an anonymous survey from Qualtrics Survey Panels. UWCBs and muscle enhancing behaviors were assessed through items adapted from national surveys. Body image dissatisfaction was assessed using the Male Body Attitudes Scales. Participants also reported their history of dating app use. We performed descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and student’s t-tests. Multivariable logistic regression models assessed the relationship between dating app use and UWCBs and muscle enhancing behaviors.ResultsDating app users had significantly higher body image dissatisfaction scores than non-users. Dating app users also demonstrated significantly elevated odds of engaging in four UWCBs and muscle enhancing behaviors: laxatives, diet pills, muscle-building supplements, and protein powders.ConclusionsThis is one of the first studies to assess dating app use and its association with UWCBs and muscle enhancing behaviors in SMM. Increased surveillance and detection for such behaviors among SMM, particularly those using dating apps, are needed.

BackgroundOnline dating has become increasingly popular over the years. Few research studies have examined the association between dating apps and disordered eating. In this study, we evaluated the association between dating app use and unhealthy weight control behaviors (UWCBs) among a sample of U.S. adults.MethodsOur sample includes 1769 adults who completed an online survey assessing dating app use and UWCBs in the past year. Survey assessed participants’ self-reported frequency of using dating apps within the past 30 days and engagement in six UWCBs with the purpose of lowering weight or changing their body shape within the past 12 months. UWCBs included vomiting, laxative use, fasting, diet pill use, muscle building supplement use, and use of anabolic steroids.ResultsResults of multivariate logistic regression models suggest dating app users had substantially elevated odds of UWCBs compared with non-users (odds ratios [OR] range = 2.7—16.2). These findings were supported by results of additional gender-stratified multivariate logistic regression analyses among women and men.ConclusionsThis study’s findings contribute to the limited literature exploring the association between dating app use and adverse health outcomes, particularly UWCBs. While additional longitudinal and representative research is needed, public health professionals ought to explore dating app use as a potential risk factor for UWCBs.

The centrality of physical appearance in dating app environments may constitute an appearance-related pressure that increases the likelihood of body dissatisfaction (BD) and disordered eating (DE), thus exacerbating the relationship between DE-predictive traits and DE itself. Although dating app use has been linked to BD and DE, prior research has also neglected the role of individuals’ dating app use motivations and relevant traits in eating pathology. To address these gaps, the current study investigated whether dating app usage moderated the effects of appearance-based rejection sensitivity, fear of negative evaluation, emotion dysregulation, and perceived social rank on DE. We also examined the unique effects of individuals’ dating app use motivations on DE. Participants (N = 690) completed baseline measures of demographic and trait variables including dating app usage. DE was positively associated with female gender, higher body mass index, a history of eating disorder (ED) diagnosis, appearance-based rejection sensitivity, and emotion dysregulation. There was a small, positive association between dating app usage and DE, indicating that dating app users were more likely to report DE symptoms, appearance-based rejection sensitivity, and emotion dysregulation. No investigated predictor was moderated by dating app usage, but four of the six measured motivations for using dating apps (love, self-worth, ease of communication, and thrill of excitement motivations) were associated with DE among the dating app user sample (casual sex and trendiness motivations were not). Given that DE behaviours can lead to EDs, the present findings suggest that lifetime dating app usage may increase socio-cultural appearance pressures that confer risk for DE.

Cell phone-based dating applications (apps) are increasingly popular in the USA. However, there is a paucity of research regarding dating app use among young heterosexual adults. This study examined the prevalence of dating application use and its connections with sexual behavior among young heterosexual adults. Five hundred nine heterosexual cisgender undergraduate students aged 18–25 completed an online survey assessing trait impulsivity, dating app use and motivations for using dating apps, sexual behavior, and demographics. 39.5% of the participants reported using dating apps. Individuals who used dating apps had higher rates of sexual risk behaviors in the past 3 months, including sex after using drugs or alcohol, and unprotected sex (anal or vaginal), and more lifetime sexual partners. When controlling for demographics and impulsivity, individuals who used dating applications were twice as likely to have had unprotected sex in the past 3 months, but were not significantly more likely to have had multiple partners within the past 3 months. In an exploratory analysis controlling for demographics and impulsivity, dating app use predicted the number of lifetime sexual partners. This study documented an association between dating app use and sexual risk behaviors among young heterosexual adults. Results suggest potential targets for intervention, including interventions that address sexual health information, and the dissemination of sexual health information through dating apps themselves.