Online Dating Research Articles

"Just Like, Risking Your Life Here": Participatory Design of User Interactions with Risk Detection AI to Prevent Online-to-Offline Harm Through Dating Apps

Social computing platforms facilitate interpersonal harms that manifest across online and physical realms such as sexual violence between online daters and sexual grooming through social media. Risk detection AI has emerged as an approach to preventing such harms, however a myopic focus on computational performance has been criticized in HCI literature for failing to consider how users should interact with risk detection AI to stay safe. In this paper we report an interview study with woman-identifying online daters (n=20) about how they envision interacting with risk detection AI and how risk detection models can be designed pursuant to such interactions. In accordance with this goal, we engaged women in risk detection model building exercises to build their own risk detection models. Findings show that women anticipate interacting with risk detection AI to augment - not replace - their personal risk assessment strategies. They likewise designed risk detection models to amplify their subjective and admittedly biased indicators of risk. Design implications involve the notion of personalizable risk detection models, but also ethical concerns around perpetuating problematic stereotypes associated with risk.

Safer Algorithmically-Mediated Offline Introductions: Harms and Protective Behaviors

People are increasingly introduced to each other offline thanks to online platforms that make algorithmically-mediated introductions between their users. Such platforms include dating apps (e.g., Tinder) and in-person gig work websites (e.g., TaskRabbit, Care.com). Protecting the users of these online-offline systems requires answering calls from prior work to consider 'post-digital' orientations of safety: shifting from traditional technological security thinking to consider algorithm-driven consequences that emerge throughout online and offline contexts rather than solely acknowledging online threats. To support post-digital safety in platforms that make algorithmically-mediated offline introductions (AMOIs), we apply a mixed-methods approach to identify the core harms that AMOI users experience, the protective safety behaviors they employ, and the prevalence of those behaviors. First, we systematically review existing work (n=93), synthesizing the harms that threaten AMOIs and the protective behaviors people employ to combat these harms. Second, we validate prior work and fill gaps left by primarily qualitative inquiry through a survey of respondents' definitions of safety in AMOI and the prevalence and implementation of their protective behaviors. We focus on two exemplar populations who engage in AMOIs: online daters (n=476) and in-person gig workers (n=451). We draw on our systematization and prevalence data to identify several directions for designers and researchers to reimagine defensive tools to support safety in AMOIs.

Beyond Swipes and Scores: Investigating Practices, Challenges and User-Centered Values in Online Dating Algorithms

The reliability of online dating algorithms has sparked considerable debate, particularly regarding skepticism about their excessive emphasis on evaluating and getting evaluated, which often overshadows the quest for authentic romantic connections. To understand the multifaceted influence of dating algorithms on end-users and explore avenues for algorithmic features considering the dynamics of human relationships, we conducted a mixed-methods study comprising in-depth interviews (N = 22) and a metaphoric co-design workshop (N = 12) with active users of online dating platforms. Interviews revealed that users perceive and respond to algorithmic evaluations with varied perceptions and behaviors, often expressing concerns about the emotional burden of constant self-presentation and the pursuit of quantitative assessments over genuine connections. In the design workshop, users envisioned desired algorithmic features to overcome investigated challenges, such as prioritizing personal values, tailored matchmaking, and support for personal growth in relationships. This research contributes to unraveling the complex dynamics of human-algorithm interaction in the context of online dating. By aligning algorithmic functions more closely with user desires and relationship goals, this study paves the way for more meaningful and authentic connections in the digital dating landscape.

The Impact of Social Media Use Among Millennial Couples

Social media use (SMU) among millennials (i.e., persons born between 1981 and 1996) is considered a hallmark behavior, with nearly 79% of individuals in this age bracket reportedly using social media multiple times a day. Despite the potential benefits of social media access, this communication method impedes forming deep connections, posing detrimental consequences to enduring romantic relationships among millennials. In recent years, SMU among millennials has skyrocketed, potentially contributing to the increased relational ruptures during this time, such as increased conflict and infidelity rates. With social media providing an outlet for individuals to text, share thoughts, photos, and intimate messages—all with the possibility of evading being caught, the millennial culture is shifting the dynamics of romantic relationships. As a result, therapists are seeing an increased number of couples from the millennial culture with heightened relational dysfunction due to social media and the digital world. Now more than ever, clinicians must be equipped with the necessary skills and competencies to assist millennial romantic relationships impacted by SMU. An in-depth literature review will provide a landscape to examine the role of social media, online dating, partner selection, and issues surrounding infidelity over the last decade. This article will conclude with a case study and recommendations for best practices to help facilitate healing among millennial relationships affected by negative SMU.

Translating and validating the Ghosting Questionnaire into Arabic: results from classical test theory and item response theory analyses

BackgroundGhosting refers to the sudden cessation of communication in interpersonal relationships. Ghosting has gained attention as a phenomenon commonly encountered in the context of digital communication. Earlier studies on ghosting mostly focused on Western societies while, in Arab societies, research into this practice has yet to be initiated. The current study aimed to address this gap by translating and validating the commonly used Ghosting Questionnaire (GHOST) into Arabic.MethodsThe translation process involved forward and back translation, expert review, and pilot testing to ensure linguistic and cultural equivalence. A convenience sample of 607 participants from Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Oman, and Tunisia completed the Arabic version of the GHOST. Statistical analyses, including reliability testing and confirmatory factor analysis, were conducted to assess the psychometric properties of the instrument.ResultsThe Arabic version of the GHOST demonstrated high reliability. The Cronbach’s alpha (α = 0.87) and McDonald’s omega (ω = 0.87) coefficients indicated strong internal consistency. Test-retest reliability coefficients confirmed the stability of the responses over time (ICC 0.89, p < 0.001). CFA supported a single-factor structure in alignment with the conceptual framework of the original English version.ConclusionsThe successful translation and validation of the GHOST into Arabic provide researchers with a reliable tool for investigating ghosting behavior within Arab societies. Future research endeavors can build upon these findings to explore the psychological implications of ghosting. Researchers can now also develop culturally sensitive understanding of online dating and related practices in Arab communities.

The grim view of online dating—Rethinking Tinder

AbstractThis paper recounts a dystopian tragedy, analogous to online dating, where people choose their partners from an enormous number of people, where rejections are made in the blink of an eye based on physical appearance and where men outnumber women. The moral of the story is discussed. It is argued that Tinder and other dating apps are a problem for justice and that this should be a public and political concern. It is suggested that we take measures to correct the inequalities in online dating.

Determinants of Online Dating Application Among Millennials

Online dating has become increasingly popular in recent years, these platforms provide a convenient and accessible way to meet new people. Studies on the use of dating applications among men and women highlight how these technologies shape communication practices and social relationships. For this study, the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) was applied to discover the determinants of online dating apps’ adoption intention. Possible determinants that might affect the intention to adopt online dating apps are sought and critically reviewed. The variables proposed in this research include performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, facilitating conditions, and an additional variable – trust. Five hypotheses were constructed, questionnaires were distributed and responses were collected to determine the adoption intention of young millennials in Malaysia. The test results indicated that trust, performance expectancy and social influence influenced the adoption intention of online dating applications. Based on the results, for performance expectancy, it was revealed that users expressed concerns about the utility of dating applications in facilitating beneficial functions, such as broadening social networks, enhancing dating opportunities, and meeting dating needs. For social influence, it revealed that individuals, especially peers, who hold significance in their lives, influence their decision to engage with online dating apps. These influential individuals impact the users' intentions by communicating the benefits of online dating apps and recommending their use. As trust improves, millennials are less reluctant to adopt online dating apps, contributing to an increase in the user base for such applications

Ghosting on Tinder: Examining Disconnectivity in Online Dating

This study examines the phenomenon of ghosting on the mobile dating app Tinder among Slovenia’s dating app users. Ghosting is defined as the unexpected unilateral termination of communication in interpersonal relationships exerted through digital platforms. Drawing upon data from the walkthrough of the mobile dating app Tinder and 26 semi-structured interviews with users living in Ljubljana (Slovenia), ghosting is conceptualized as an undesirable but normalized disconnection strategy on Tinder. We argue that choosing ghosting as a communication strategy emerges predominantly from two different contexts. Firstly, from the need to protect oneself from harassment and vulnerability, and secondly, as a reaction to the information overload in an environment that demands perpetual activity, availability, and interaction. Therefore, it manifests as a disconnection strategy on an interaction level or as a consequence of disconnecting from the platform itself. According to users, the desire to disconnect from others and exit the app is as high and ambiguous as the desire to connect and experience an ego boost or the excitement of interactions. Ghosting on Tinder, therefore, emerges as a response to general hyperconnectivity to navigate the increasing information overload and to a feeling of loss of the possibilities for safe and authentic connections in digital spaces.

Young women’s conceptualisation and self-representation in online dating: a qualitative analysis

AbstractOnline dating has become an increasingly popular way to meet potential romantic partners. Young women experience a complex interplay between traditional gender roles and elevated risks in online dating. Our project aimed to explore young women’s self-representation in online dating, with the research question, “How do young women conceptualise and represent the ‘self’ in online dating?”. An exploratory qualitative research design was adopted, encompassing semi-structured interviews with 10 participants analysed via Reflexive Thematic Analysis. Sampling was purposive and snowballing, resulting in a final sample of participants aged between 19 and 30 years who identified as female and had engaged in online dating within the last six months. Interviews lasted 52 min on average. To ensure quality and trustworthiness, the research team utilised various quality procedures. Three themes with multiple aspects were constructed which encompassed feelings of (un)safety, social norms in online dating, and selling your best ‘self’. Unsafety was related to deception in online dating, physical danger, and the work required to stay safe. Social norms involved the normalisation of online dating, stigma, and social assistance with self-representation. Selling your best ‘self’ examined the marketable ‘self’ and conflicts with the values of authenticity. Our study has potential implications regarding responsibility for safety and may indicate some support for the idea of an overarching framework as beneficial to understanding the vast theoretical frameworks in online dating. Further research into how different subgroups of young women self-represent in online dating is likely to yield more specific understandings.

Dating Anxiety and Loneliness in Online Dating: The Moderating Effect of Gender

In the digital age, online dating applications have revolutionized the way young adults form romantic connections, providing both opportunities and challenges. Understanding the psychological impacts of these platforms is crucial. Young adults, while navigating romantic pursuits and various developmental challenges, are susceptible to feelings of loneliness. Dating anxiety is a significant factor that can exacerbate loneliness within this demographic. Moreover, gender differences may influence individuals' experiences in dating situations. This research aims to explore the relationship between dating anxiety and loneliness among users of dating applications and to examine the role of gender as a moderating variable in this relationship. The study employs a quantitative correlational approach, incorporating demographic data and two scales: the Dating Anxiety Scale and the UCLA Loneliness Scale 3. The research participants consist of 250 early adults aged 20-34 who actively use online dating applications. Data analysis involves descriptive analysis and moderation analysis using the Jamovi software. The research findings indicate a significant direct relationship between dating anxiety and loneliness (p less than 0.001). Furthermore, gender was found to have no significant impact on loneliness (p more than 0.05), and the interaction between dating anxiety and gender was not significant (p more than 0.05). This suggests a uniform impact among both genders in the relationship between dating anxiety and loneliness. The study highlights the complex dynamics influencing loneliness among online dating application users. The findings enhance theoretical understanding of how dating anxiety relates to loneliness. Practically, these insights can help developers create features that reduce anxiety and loneliness. Future research should identify other factors influencing these dynamics to further enrich theoretical and practical knowledge in this field.

Displaying health cues on online dating profiles: How do gender, smoking, and COVID-19 vaccination statuses influence impression and dating decision?

Recent COVID-19 online dating research have investigated the strategies people used during the pandemic dating, however, the relationship between displaying health cues on online dating profiles and making online dating decisions has been understudied. A 2 (Profile Owner/Viewer’s Gender: Male vs. Female) x 2 (Smoking Status: Non-Smoker vs. Smoker) x 2 (COVID-19 Vaccination status: Not Vaccinated vs. Vaccinated) between-subjects online experiment (N = 250) was conducted to examine the impact of gender, smoking, and COVID-19 vaccination status on online dating decision. Results showed non-smoking profile owners were more likely to receive the video chat invitation compared with smoking profile owners. Male profile viewers were more likely to send message, video chat, meet offline, make short-term and long-term dating decisions toward profile owners compared with female profile viewers. Vaccinated females and unvaccinated males were more likely to receive the offline meeting invitation. An online dating profile owner’s perceived intelligence and perceived similarity would vary as a function of his/her vaccination status and smoking status. In addition, loneliness moderated the relationship between smoking/vaccination status and long/short term dating decisions. This study contributed to the literature of online dating and provided a roadmap for the online dating website designers.

Incorporating Web Semantics, the Technology Acceptance Model, and the Theory of Planned Behavior for Analyzing User Intentions on Dating Apps

Online dating apps have become increasingly popular in recent years as a tool for finding partners. However, there is a gap in research on the comprehensive factors that influence users' intentions to prefer online dating apps over traditional means, specifically in Indonesia. The present study thus proposes using web semantic techniques and integrates the technology acceptance model and the theory of planned behavior to get a holistic perspective on predicting users' intentions in online dating. The questionnaires analyzed using SEM-PLS indicate that the attitude toward online dating is positively affected by the perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness. Additionally, attitude, subjective norms, and self-efficacy positively affect the intention to utilize online dating apps. The research thus introduces a consolidated technology to offer new insights and implications for the design and marketing of online dating apps by highlighting the importance of user-friendly interfaces, perceived benefits, social influence, and individual confidence in using the apps.

Efficacy of Internet Recruitment and HIV Self-Testing for Diagnosing HIV Infections Among Black and Hispanic/Latino MSM and Transgender Women in 11 US States, 2020-2021.

We evaluated internet platforms for distributing HIV self-tests (HIVSTs) to Black or African American (Black) and Hispanic or Latino men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TGW). We recruited MSM and TGW from general interest, dating, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender platforms. Two HIVSTs were mailed to all MSM and TGW. Surveys (screening, baseline, 4-month, and results reporting) were completed online. After 4 months, participants were mailed another HIVST and a dried blood spot card. All HIVST interpretations and images of HIVST devices were reported online. Of 2093 MSM and 102 TGW, most were recruited through general interest and dating platforms. Over 50% were 18-29 years old, most identified as gay or bisexual. Overall, 45% had not tested for HIV in the past 12 months, and 9.1% of MSM reported a positive (reactive for HIV antibodies) HIVST result, with the highest percentage among Black MSM (11.5%). Dating platforms recruited higher percentages of MSM who recorded positive results compared with MSM from general interest platforms during the intervention period (11.9% vs 5.5% (P < 0.0001)), and MSM who had never tested for HIV reported a greater percentage of positive HIVST results compared with MSM who had been tested for HIV before enrollment (16.1% vs. 7.1%; P < 0.0001). MSM were able to correctly interpret and report HIVST results. Of TGW, 7% reported a positive HIVST result. Internet dating and general interest platforms can be key to increasing awareness of infection among BMSM, HMSM, and TGW persons, including those who do not use existing HIV services. www.clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT04219878.

Eight Decades of Educational Assortative Mating: A Research Note

Recent social and economic trends in the United States, including increasing economic inequality, women's growing educational advantage, and the rise of online dating, have ambiguous implications for patterns of educational homogamy. In this research note, we examine changes in educational assortative mating in the United States over the last eight decades (1940 to 2020) using the U.S. decennial censuses and the American Community Survey, extending and expanding earlier work by Schwartz and Mare. We find that the rise in educational homogamy noted by Schwartz and Mare has not continued. Increases in educational homogamy stalled around 1990 and began reversing in the 2000s. We find a growing tendency for marriages to cross educational boundaries, but a college degree remains the strongest dividing line to intermarriage. A key trend explaining this new pattern is women's increasing tendency to marry men with less education than themselves. If not for this trend, homogamy would have continued increasing until the early 2010s. We also show substantial heterogeneity by race, ethnicity, and nativity and among same- versus different-sex couples.

Analyzing Interaction Patterns on Dating Sites: A Generic Structure Potential Approach

Online dating has become a popular stage to find a romantic partner. In such context, interlocutors must employ language carefully to reveal their intentions, attract attention and as well sustain intimacy with their potential partners. While previous studies have explored aspects such as self-disclosure and linguistic strategies in impression formation, there remains a gap in understanding the structured interactions that occur between potential partners on dating sites. This study, therefore, investigated the linguistic elements and interactional structures characterizing online dating discourse, focusing on two popular platforms, Tinder and Tagged. Adopting Halliday and Hasan’s Generic Structure Potential framework, the study examined conversations of thirty participants (potential partners) whose relationship ranges between two weeks to three months. Findings revealed seven key stages: Discourse Initiation (DI), Introduction (INTR), Question and Response (QAR), Request (RQ), Admiration (AD), Declaration of Dating Intention (DDI), and Topic Formation for Conversation (TF). Each stage is marked by specific linguistic features and serves unique functions within the communication process. DI involves friendly greetings and endearments to initiate conversation and signal interest. INTR often includes declarative statements that provide personal information, establishing familiarity and a good first impression. QAR facilitates information exchange through questions and responses. RQ, predominantly by males, involves polite modal verb constructions to move the conversation to more personal platforms or obtain further information. AD includes compliments and positive affirmations to express appreciation and create a positive interaction tone. DDI features direct and indirect questions about relationship status to clarify the intent behind the interaction and define the nature of the potential relationship. Finally, TF sustains conversation with statements and questions about daily activities and interests. This study contributes to the broader understanding of professional discourse by analyzing the structured linguistic strategies and interactional patterns employed in online dating, demonstrating how individuals strategically use language to manage impressions, negotiate intentions, and build relationships – skills also crucial in professional communication.

A Study of Factors in Women’s Choice of a Potential Partner in the Context of Internet Dating

Introduction. The study aims to investigate the factors of women’s choice of partner in an online dating situation. In the period of digitalization, many women seek to expand their opportunities to find a suitable partner through the use of online dating services. At the same time, many women have certain concerns and do not know what exactly to pay attention to when dating so that it leads to the creation of a romantic relationship. This is the first time that the question of the existence of a relationship between the factors of partner selection and the consequences of online dating is considered, which determines the novelty of the study. Its results will help to identify the most successful strategies for choosing a potential partner that lead to the establishment of long-term relationships. Objective. To identify the most common factors among women in selecting a potential partner in an Internet dating situation. Materials and Methods. A translated version of Liesel Sharabi’s questionnaire-questionnaire was used to establish the peculiarities of women’s use of dating services. Binomial criterion, Fisher’s exact test, and conjugacy test were used as methods of statistical data analysis.Results. The empirical object of the study was women aged 18 to 60 (n = 61). It was found that women are quite selective in the situation of choosing potential partners in dating services. The majority of women feel apprehension regarding the use of dating services, which is associated with the fear of not meeting a suitable partner there. At the same time, women remain convinced of the effectiveness of dating services and hope to get married through their use. The main factor in choosing a partner among women is the way he or she shows himself or herself in correspondence. At the same time, women who got married as a result of online dating also took into account such a factor as the appearance of the chosen one. Discussion. The obtained data are confirmed by the results of other authors’ studies. Thus, women’s selectivity in the situation of Internet dating is explained by the increase in their self-confidence, as well as by the desire to demonstrate themselves from the “right” side. At the same time, women’s fears seem to be quite justified, taking into account that men are much more likely to describe their desired, rather than real, characteristics in questionnaires. Women more often make a choice based on the features of correspondence, since most of the criteria important for selection are revealed in the course of communication.

Scalable intimacy: Rethinking intimate sociality and its problem of scale in digital China

With the development of the Internet in China, people have increasingly turned to digital communication and networking tools for personal connections and social relations. From messaging and dating apps to microblogging and live-streaming platforms, mediated forms of sociality constitute a significant part of people’s intimate lives. Scholarly works on modern and contemporary China have shown how practices and politics of intimacy are formulated and contested against the backdrop of the tensions between the residual culture of Confucianism, the socialist ideological regime, and China’s participation in global capitalism. On the contrary, research on global network societies has foregrounded the role of information and media technologies in mediating intimacy with conceptual frameworks such as programmed sociality and networked intimacy. Bridging these two areas of research, this essay attempts to understand how intimate sociality is configured within China’s burgeoning digital economy and culture. It first provides a review of previous works on forms of intimacy and sociality mediated by network technologies ranging from mobile phones to online dating. Using the popularity of live streaming in current-day China as a case study, this essay then introduces the problem of “scale” to consider how intimacy is mediated at scale with Internet-based media technologies and discuss how scalability shapes intimate lives in Chinese society as a shared rationale behind modernization, network technologies, and new forms of economies. This essay proposes the concept of scalable intimacy to move beyond the platform-centered approach and develop a more contextualized framework for understanding intimate sociality in digital China.

The causal effect of skin color bias in online dating

Despite the expansive literature on U.S. ethnoracial relations, issues such as reliance on observational data and inconsistent measures of skin color limit the research on skin color stratification and cross-ethnoracial relationships. These issues hinder researchers’ capacity to disentangle the causal effect of colorism in perpetuating discrepancies within intergroup relationships, specifically within the context of online dating, a popular form of modern dating. In May–June 2021, I fielded a survey experiment that features online dating profiles of Black daters in which skin tone is the treatment. While the multivariate analyses show no statistically significant differences between light- and medium-toned daters, profiles featuring dark-skinned daters consistently receive a penalty in comparison to profiles of light- and medium-skinned people. The results suggest that colorism can have a direct impact on how dark-skinned Black people navigate their romantic lives, independent of other influential factors (e.g., socioeconomic status, social networks, etc.).

MEETVERSE: A new way of Interaction on Online Meeting Platforms

Online meeting platforms are used widely in today’s era of Digital India. These meetingplatforms are used in providing online education, online dating and online business meetings, etc. Duringthe last decade, there is quite a development in online meeting methods. At present the meetingapplications solve almost everything be it sharing screen, muting mic, disabling your camera, andchanging the background but still they sometimes become boring. This article presents ways to makemeeting applications more interesting using Avatar formation, interacting using Avatar, and providing handgesture controls to increase and decrease the volume of the meeting platform.Different deep learning techniques are required to make different avatars according to different people.Different Machine learning and Computer Vision techniques are used such as face recognition forextracting the features from the face to directly apply them to the Avatar. These methods and features arean add-on to the existing Meeting Applications, which makes them more interactive.

Does Online Dating Make Relationships More Successful? Replication and Extension of a Previous Study.

A previous study has found a negative correlation between meeting one's romantic partner in online dating (vs. offline) and marriage quality through a quota sample of the U.S. population. This current study replicates and extends this previous study by analyzing another sample of the U.S. population from the Pew Research Center (N = 2,787). Largely consistent with the previous finding, we found that meeting one's partner in online dating (vs. offline) was marginally related to experiencing less relationship success among people in a marital relationship. However, the difference was not observed among people in a nonmarital romantic relationship. In addition, sharing or discussing one's relationship or dating life (i.e., relationship talks) on social media (RToSM) conditioned the link between meeting venue and relationship success. That is, for marital relationships, meeting in online dating was only linked to less relationship success among people with no RToSM but not among those who had RToSM; for nonmarital relationships, there was a positive link between meeting in online dating and relationship success among those who had RToSM, but this positive link was not observed among those who had no RToSM. We further discuss the implications of our findings on the long-term impact of online dating in marital and nonmarital romantic relationships.