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To effectively evaluate the performance of the tourism industry in terms of sustainability, it is important to understand how consumers self-present with regard to sustainable development and practices. This study presents a covert methodological approach to achieve this endeavor. The study reveals that despite the concept of "ecofeminism" feminizing "nature," when it comes to tourism or leisure activities, women do not primarily self-present through ecotourism. By using a dating app as a data collection platform, this study is offering an innovative way to explore the topic of self-presentation, as this is a key concept in research on dating apps Additionally, because dating apps access the personal life of individuals, it offers an opportunity to fully investigate the role and importance (attitude behavior gap) of nature as part of women's leisure activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article recenters physical contexts in mediated communication, drawing on scholarship on communication and space and interviews with gay dating app (GDA) users in Seoul, South Korea. Findings suggested that GDAs virtually expanded the heavily stigmatized population’s everyday capacity to navigate and co-construct (parts of) Seoul as a fluctuating gay place(s) but with ongoing contextualizations through their physical situatedness. Physical gayborhoods’ boundedness shifted as GDAs enabled them to hybridly merge spatial contexts. Rather than simple virtualization, negotiations around societal and in-group stigmas and desires for physically grounded belonging were observed, and the gayborhoods importantly constituted the hybrid space by materially and discursively congregating diverse users. Based on the findings, I propose “layerability,” a topologically specified approach to visibility affordance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While South Koreans tend to quickly adopt new technologies, such as mobile apps, without facing technological difficulties, this population uses dating apps at a relatively low rate compared with Western countries. The current study employes the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) to examine psychological factors, as opposed to technological factors, to explain why South Koreans—particularly female young adults—rarely use dating apps to find potential romantic partners. Participants were 309 women who completed an online survey assessing their attitudes toward dating apps, subjective norms regarding dating apps, and perceived risks. As for behavioral control, factors of the original TPB were collected, and the relationships among these factors were analyzed. The results indicated that the initially suggested model did not show an acceptable fit of the data. Among the three factors, attitude towards dating apps was the most important in predicting intention, while actual usage of the apps negatively affected future intentions. Implications and future research directions are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dating app use can be precarious for Indian women, as they often face the risk of catfishing, stalking, harassment, abuse, and even physical violence. This narrative review synthesises the growing body of literature on Technology-Facilitated Violence Against Women (TFVAW), incorporating a specific focus on Indian women's experiences with dating apps. While there is a growing body of research on TFVAW, the specific focus on Indian women's experiences with dating apps remains underexplored. By building upon the broader research on TFVAW, this review aims to bridge the knowledge gap surrounding the experiences of Indian women in this context. The literature highlights several prominent types of harassment that women experience on online platforms in India. These include image-based abuse (IBA), cyberstalking, e-bile, doxing, and gender trolling. The narrative review shows that the abuse and harassment women face on dating apps have significant impacts on their mental health. Additionally, the existing dominant socio-cultural factors play an enabling role in facilitating harassment and abuse, leading some women to withdraw from dating platforms altogether. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Turkish Online Journal of Design, Art & Communication is the property of Turkish Online Journal of Design, Art & Communication and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

There is growing academic interest in the leisure spaces of online dating as a specific avenue of technology-facilitated sexual violence (TFSV). Yet, limited attention is paid to survivors' experiences and understandings of sexual violence intermediated by dating apps. Using feminist standpoint theory and an intersectional lens, in-depth interviews were conducted with 15 current and former dating app (e.g. Tinder, Grindr) users of diverse identities and backgrounds who previously experienced sexual violence. Sexual violence was found to take a multiplicity of forms spanning the "online-offline" continuum that often co-occur and mutually reinforce their effects, including sexual assault threats, image-based harassment, gender/sexuality-based hate speech, and in-person sexual coercion and/or aggression. Depending on the experience frequency and severity, psycho-social outcomes range from indifference/mild annoyance to emotional trauma and social withdrawal. Findings underscore the profound personal and collective impacts of TFSV and the urgent need for coordinated, multisectoral responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is growing evidence that dating app facilitated sexual violence (DAFSV) against women is increasing. As users experience abuse, threats, aggressive behaviour, and/or sexual violence through using dating apps, many engage in safety work with the aim of reducing or avoiding such violence. Women’s experiences of DAFSV have been a focus of media reporting and have only recently started getting research attention. This article adds to this emerging research through a qualitative analysis of individual and group interviews with 17 cisgendered women. The focus is on participants’ reflections on the safety work they engage in when using dating apps, both online and when meeting in-person. I explore the ways in which primarily online safety work provides some participants with a sense of control and safety. I also consider how meeting a man in-person is often fraught with the fear of “being raped and murdered” and the various safety strategies many participants feel they need to enact in order to go on a date or hook up. Given a renewed focus on the concept of rape culture in relation to technology-facilitated sexual violence, I then consider the ways in which women’s safety work is informed by and reproduces the gendered discourses of violence in rape culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the widespread use of dating apps, it is essential to understand the reasons for their use. Dark Tetrad predict motives for Tinder usage in different ways, but it seems that sexual motives are one of the main reasons why "dark" people use Tinder. So, both dark traits and sociosexual orientation seem to play a relevant role. This study aimed to identify profiles of individuals in terms of their Dark Tetrad traits and their orientation towards unrestricted sex and analyse the differences between them based on the Tinder usage reasons. In 200 participants (Mage = 30.78; 67.50% female), an online survey was administered including the Tinder Motives Scale (TMS; validated in Spanish in this study), the Tinder use and outcomes, the Short Dark Triad, the Assessment of Sadistic Personality, and the Sociosexual Orientation Inventory were administered. Results offered a shorter version of the TMS, and three-profiles: Non-dark and non-sociosexual (41.30%), Slightly narcissistic and sociosexual (38.60%), and Highdark and slightly sociosexual (20.10%). There were differences between profiles and Tinder motives. People with less dark traits and sociosexual orientation seem to be more motivated to use Tinder for finding romantic partners, and people most interested in using Tinder for sexual purposes are those with moderate Dark Tetrad and not those with the highest scores. Identifying what motivates those with less sexual restriction and undesirable traits to use Tinder is crucial. This knowledge could help design awareness programs on the misuse of these apps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid rise of smartphones has significantly impacted Indian adolescents, providing easy access to information, social interaction, and entertainment but also raising concerns about smartphone addiction. This study aims to explore the relationship between parent-adolescent communication and smartphone addiction and to investigate the influence of demographic variables on them. Using a cross-sectional survey design, data were collected from a sample of 845 individuals through the Parent-Adolescent Communication Scale (PACS) and the Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version (SAS-SV). Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics Version 27, employing independent samples t-tests, one-way ANOVA, and Pearson correlation to assess relationships and differences among variables. The findings reveal that late adolescents, due to extensive use of social media, mobile games, and dating apps, coupled with less parental supervision, are particularly prone to smartphone addiction. Secondary students exhibited greater openness in communication with parents compared to undergraduate students, who demonstrated higher levels of smartphone addiction. Parental literacy positively affects communication openness and reduces smartphone addiction, though literate mothers may face time constraints due to additional responsibilities. Higher family income is linked to better communication and lower smartphone addiction levels, while economically disadvantaged adolescents experience higher stress and greater smartphone dependency. The study also finds a moderate positive correlation between communication problems and smartphone addiction. This research underscores the importance of effective parent-adolescent communication and highlights the role of demographic factors in managing smartphone addiction among adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper will discuss the representation of heterosexual masculinities in online dating applications in India. By taking the example of men's self-representation on Tinder, the paper talks about how Indian men perform masculinities online. After collecting 120 male daters' self-introductions (or bios), a thematic analysis was conducted to examine the online representation of masculinities in urban India. The analysis reveals that hegemonic Indian masculinities that operate within the terms of emotional insensitivity and toughness are not extensively present; rather, most male daters tend to display themselves as balanced selves between "emotional sensitivity" and "ideal manhood." Male daters represent themselves within a range of qualities that are highly valued by women. The paper notes that Tinder provides a space for some men to negotiate (and even challenge) the dominant discourses on hegemonic masculinities by allowing the men to enact sensitivity and vulnerability, traits that are more aligned with women's needs and perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Aim: Chemsex means substance use in a sexual context and is associated with men who have sex with men. Typical substances are methamphetamines, GHB/GBL, ketamine and mephedrone. Chemsex is associated with psychological distress. Internalized homonegativity is considered an explanatory approach. The study tests the hypothesis whether chemsex behavior is associated with higher levels of psychological distress and internalized homonegativity and what role georeferenced dating apps play in chemsex users. Methodology: The data collection was conducted as an online survey. Data were collected on depression (PHQ-9), somatization (PHQ-15) and generalized anxiety (GAD 7) and internalized homonegativity (Reaction to Homosexuality Scale). Results: N=280 reported chemsex (CS), N=534 used other substances in a sexual context, N= 170 did not use in a sexual context (NSSK). There were significant differences between CS and NSSK in terms of somatization. CS showed a significantly lower degree of internalized homonegativity. CS used georeferenced dating apps significantly more often. Conclusion: Internalized homonegativity was lowest among chemsex users and does not appear to promote chemsex behavior. Psychological distress was increased. It is possible that social normalization processes, reinforced by the use of dating apps, contribute to the explanation of chemsex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sextech is currently experiencing a golden age, promising technological innovation to improve sexual health and well-being. However, the privacy and security vulnerabilities of smart sex toys have been the subject of media attention. Dating apps, menstrual trackers and sex toy companies have paid millions in compensation for non-consensually collecting or sharing intimate data. In this article, we share findings from a research workshop with prospective sextech industry professionals about how they approach data governance. The conversations reveal disconnections between the emancipatory, collective and rights-based possibilities offered by feminist and queer tech cultures, broader public interest in data commons and the technosolutionist narratives of start-up cultures. We conclude that there is a need for collaborations between industry, community and researchers to develop approaches to governance that reorganise, redistribute and decentralise the data economy of sex tech. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Swipe-based dating apps characteristically provide quantitative social feedback in the form of matches. 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose the concept of algorithmic heteronormativity to describe the ways in which dating apps' digital architectures are informed by and perpetuate normative sexual ideologies. Situating our intervention within digital affordance theories and grounding our analysis in walkthroughs of several popular dating apps' (e.g., Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge) interfaces, promotional materials, and ancillary media, we identify four normative sexual ideologies—gendered desire, hetero and homonormativity, mononormativity, and shame—that manifest in specific features, including gender choice, compatibility surveys, and private chat. This work builds on earlier digital culture theorizing by explicitly articulating the reciprocal and gradational linkages between existing moral codes, digital infrastructures, and individual behaviors, which in the contemporary context work jointly to narrow the horizon of intimate possibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Ileti-s-im is the property of Universite Galatasaray, Faculty of Communication and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Introduction: Although some studies have found a link between dating apps and sociodemographic variables, sexual attitudes, and sexual risk behaviors, few studies in Spain have explored these relationships. This study analyzes the relationship between the use of dating apps and these variables in this country. Method: A total of 2288 people aged between 18 and 35 years completed a questionnaire, which, in addition to sociodemographic variables, contained questions on the use of dating apps, a measure of attitudes toward online sexual behaviors, and indicators of sexual risk behaviors. Results: The percentage of men using dating apps is higher than that of women, and the percentage of LGB users is higher than that of heterosexuals. In addition, users have more positive attitudes toward online sexual behavior than non-users. In general, users are also found to have more sexual partners than non-users, although they more frequently use condoms for vaginal intercourse and anal sex. Conclusion: The present study provides evidence for the relationship between the use of dating apps and certain variables in Spain. Policy Implications: Dating apps do not have to be equated with sexual risk, but condom use should continue to be encouraged, especially among those who have multiple sexual partners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores how intimacy is shaped through mobile-mediated dating, which is seasoned with culinary preferences and gendered conventions. Drawing on the sociological concept of mediated intimacy and attending to emotionalised culinary experiences and gendered individualism, this study asks three questions. First, how is intimacy represented by dining-dating apps? Second, how do these dining-dating apps approach 'being single'? Third, what gender relations and what contradictions between romance and consumerism can be identified in dating that is managed by an app and that trades in intimate commodities? By analysing the advertising text, testimonials, and reviews posted online, I demonstrate that individuals are not only invited to manage their intimate life through cultural consumption but are also compelled to adopt accelerated and mediated ways of engaging. I reveal that the limited and regulated access to communicative exchanges and the extended follow-up dinner dates in dining-dating apps is related to concerns about personal and relational investment. Furthermore, I argue that dining-dating apps participate in the mediation of emotions and gender relations by introducing intimate commodities that blur the borders between individualist aspiration and gendered and classed ways of experiencing intimacy. Together, these findings provide a particularly interesting context and open up new avenues for studying intimacy, gender, and cultural consumption in sociology and media studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present era of time and technology, individuals around the globe have observed an increased activity among the acknowledgment of LGBTQIA+ members. However, society does not treat them the same way as individuals who are deemed "normal" in the context of online dating. This paper will unveil the struggles that these individuals face. Knowing the experiences and nuances of the LGBTQIA+ community through this setting would remarkably help not only the researchers but also to the viewers who will stumble by it. A narrative research design was utilized in order to incorporate their perspectives. Along with this, semi-structured interviews will be the method of this research in order for the authors to gain sufficient insight into their ventures and introspections. The information amassed through said interviews has supported homosexual men's right to self-expression, validation of their uneasiness, and demonstrating to society how the "conventional" image of their sexuality can be used against them. It can be concluded that this information has also led researchers to recognize that despite the cultural differences between the LGBTQIA+ community and what is considered normal, they share quite the similarities, albeit more severe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractYoung men who have sex with men in Brazil face vulnerability to HIV and display lower PrEP uptake and adherence. Understanding their engagement with digital technologies can better inform mobile health (mHealth) strategies for HIV prevention and care. As part of the Conectad@s study, a HIV status-neutral prevention and care intervention for young men who have sex with men, we conducted semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions with 38 participants between January-February 2021. Participants discussed their use of digital technologies and their perceptions of mHealth interventions for HIV prevention and care. Key findings included the high use of digital technologies for social interaction and to meeting sex partners through dating apps; novel uses of communication and social networking apps to meet sex partners; strong acceptance of mHealth strategies to improve HIV prevention and care, with WhatsApp being the preferred platform; preference for receiving short messages containing information about HIV and other sexually transmitted infections in addition to PrEP reminders; and interest in interacting with research team members, especially peers, to discuss combination HIV prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study adopts a Critical Femininities approach to examine the under-theorised domain of sexual norms on dating apps, with a focus on the self-representations of Spanish heterosexual women on Tinder. Through an analysis of three hundred profiles, this research investigates the gendered dynamics influencing these women’s portrayals of themselves in the digital dating context. Combining quantitative and qualitative methodologies, the findings reveal patterns in women’s online-mediated intimacies and sexual subjectivities, highlighting the pervasive influence of femmephobia in this space. Empirical data underscore how these dynamics operate, providing insight into the extent to which hegemonic gender beliefs and regulatory norms shape digital femininities. Moreover, a discursive examination of the ways these Spanish women construct their gendered and sexual identities on Tinder offers a critical view of the constraints and possibilities they face within this specific socio-cultural framework. This study’s focus on linguistic and representational strategies in digital self-presentation deepens our understanding of how normative gender expectations continue to shape social and sexual interactions in contemporary online spaces. In so doing, this research contributes to broader discussions in Gender Studies and linguistics, illustrating how femininity is performed, policed, and navigated in digital dating environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines factors associated with dating app facilitated sexual violence (DAFSV) among a large, nationally representative sample of dating app or website users (n=9,987). Through the lens of routine activity theory, we examined the way in which respondents used dating platforms and how this was associated with experiences of DAFSV. Prolific dating platform users and those who share more information, who chat with people on different platforms or who paid for an online dating service were more likely to report experiencing DAFSV. Risk factors for DAFSV extending from the online sphere into the physical world were also explored. Findings give much needed context for experiences of DAFSV and provide direction for responses aimed at protecting individuals from harm facilitated by online dating platforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both scientists and laypeople have become increasingly concerned about smartphones, especially their associated digital media (e.g., email, news, gaming, and dating apps) and social media (e.g., Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat). Recent correlational research links substantial declines in Gen Z well-being to digital and social media use, yet other work suggests the effects are small and unnoteworthy. To help further disentangle correlation from causation, we conducted a preregistered 8-day experimental deprivation study with Gen Z individuals (N = 338). Participants were randomly assigned to one of four conditions: (1) restrict digital media (i.e., smartphone) use, (2) restrict social media use, (3) restrict water use (active control), or (4) restrict nothing (measurement-only control). Relative to controls, participants restricting digital media reported a variety of benefits, including higher life satisfaction, mindfulness, autonomy, competence, and self-esteem, and reduced loneliness and stress. In contrast, those assigned to restrict social media reported relatively few benefits (increased mindfulness) and even some potential costs (increased negative emotion). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research investigates how self-esteem and loneliness affect the psychological well-being of Online Dating App Users in Bagumbayan, Bocaue, Bulacan, Philippines. Using a sequential exploratory design integrating qualitative and quantitative approaches, the study explores the experiences, challenges, coping strategies, and psychological attributes of 15 participants in the qualitative phase. The subsequent quantitative phase involves 200 respondents assessed through the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, UCLA Loneliness Scale, and Psychological Well-being Scale. The findings reveal a complex landscape: Online Dating App Users exhibit moderate self-esteem and loneliness levels while displaying aboveaverage psychological well-being. Statistically, a moderate positive correlation exists between self-esteem and psychological well-being, alongside a low yet significant correlation between loneliness and psychological well-being. These insights underpin the formulation of the "Swipe Right, Swipe Left: The Realities of Online Dating Apps Program," which aims to empower users and foster emotionally healthy connections within digital dating platforms through workshops and seminars. This study provides crucial insights into the psychological dynamics of Online Dating App Users, offering implications for research and practical interventions promoting well-being in the digital dating sphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores internet addiction, with a focus on digital devices and dating apps. Using the psychoanalytical conceptualization, we present a clinical case study of a young man struggling with both his sexuality and his addiction to online interactions. The addictive nature of internet use, particularly in relation to sexuality and pornography, is explored, highlighting its pervasive characteristics in contemporary society. Drawing on psychoanalytic theories, we explore the concept of "symptom" as the expression of discontents in civilization, from a Freudian approach, and therefore the impact of symbolic and cultural factors on psychopathological phenomena. The study offers insights into the psychodynamics of various forms of addiction, particularly sexual addiction. The treatment of a case of addiction to dating apps will show how this relationship to sexuality is shaped by social practices disseminated through the internet and social networks. Finally, the psychodynamic underpinnings of internet addiction and its impact, particularly on vulnerable young people, underline the importance of recognising the addictive nature of digital devices in contemporary society. In fact, the patient's addictive style of enjoyment could be considered as typical of a generalised style of enjoyment in contemporary society. Addiction thus becomes a typical symptomatic trait that excludes the existential lack of the subject. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Society - and the way it is organized - along with families, shapes who is available and suitable as a partner, who we encounter, what traits we seek in a partner, and who we form relationships with. In turn, our partner choices impact society at large. Given this bidirectional relationship, partner selection is expected to evolve alongside broader societal changes influenced by factors such as economic shifts, wars, migration, and sociocultural transformations like secularization, feminist movements, and sexual revolutions. The central question of this special issue is how societal transformations have influenced long-term trends in partner preferences and choices. This is being explored through new sources - online genealogies, matrimonial and contact advertisements, data from marriage agencies and dating apps – and approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dating apps can amplify the number and diversity of our potential dates while also enabling us to filter and choose people who are more similar to us. Homogamous preferences and rooted problems like sexual racism can lead users to maintain or even reify a racialized sexual hierarchy that privileges Whiteness. Whether dating apps help build a more racially diverse world or reinforce discrimination is an open question. This study contributes to this debate by analyzing the racial preferences of thousands of users of Tinder, one of the most popular dating apps worldwide. Through a field experiment that displays (otherwise equivalent) female and male Black and White profiles, we compared the choices of people looking for heterosexual and same-gender relationships. The results show that respondents in all groups favor White profiles. Even though previous research sustains that same-gender couples are less racially homogamous, this was not confirmed in this experiment. In fact, the most surprising finding is that the preference for White partners is relatively stronger for lesbian women. However, when predicting the likelihood of a profile being liked, gender and sexual orientation are far more decisive than race. These findings support the need for an intersectional approach toward race, sexual orientation, and gender and to keep studying the effects of dating app use on mating outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In contemporary 'platformised' societies, digital businesses play a key role in producing and reproducing romantic cultures. In this article, we explore how the digital industry of dating has translated existing romantic cultures into datafied algorithmic infrastructures. We do so by looking at the interplay between the interconnected dimensions of a) existing mainstream cultures of love and sex, b) their datafication and codification into dating apps, and c) how the latter produce a new understanding of dating that is functional to create digital enclosures. Drawing on existing scholarly research as well as original qualitative data, we argue that dating apps reproduce dating as a de-romanticised social practice which is part of a digital lifestyle organised around a reputational logic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In March 2019, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) identified Grindr, a hookup app that predominantly caters to men who have sex with men, as a "national security threat" and compelled the Chinese conglomerate Kunlun Tech to divest from it entirely. The CFIUS-Grindr ruling is indicative of larger regulatory debates over increasing datafication trends in the dating app industry. Through a political economy approach to communication, this paper examines how this ruling was predominantly constructed by various stakeholders as a public controversy in light of the ongoing US–China trade conflict. This interpretation of the controversy relies on a prejudicial trope that construes queer dating app users as vulnerable targets of potential blackmail schemes operated by Chinese intelligence agencies. Through the Lavender Scare, a historical period referring to state-led investigations into the presence of LGBTQ+ employees in Western federal workforces, this paper historicizes this blackmail trope to highlight how the politicization of queer vulnerabilities amid global hegemonic conflicts is a tactic that predates the US-China trade conflict. It argues that the CFIUS-Grindr ruling weaponizes Grindr's queer data publics as threats against which the US government should protect itself, while failing to fully recognize the urgency for the state to protect the data privacy rights of the LGBTQ+ communities in the digital economy. In light of the CFIUS-Grindr ruling, this paper examines the implications that datafication raises for the LGBTQ+ communities whose sexual lives and identities are increasingly being datafied and exploited by digital media platforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dating apps are valuation devices that people use to set up and valuate digital identities. Building a profile is a first move in a valuation game that contributes to intimate valorization of persons and elicits valuations by other members of a dating platform. This article contributes to the analysis of valuation in intimate life by analyzing profile texts as documents of dating practice. Using data from 1004 profiles collected in Berlin, Germany, it shows that profile texts formally resemble personal ads and identifies three rules of doing digital dating: Users identify the dating self by describing who they are, what they do and what they like; they valorize the self by references to valuation criteria that indicate what counts as valuable or worthy; and they do so by using the list as a medium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study examines the impact of acne on women's use of social media and dating apps, focusing on photo activity. Over 1700 women participated in the survey, with most reporting feelings of embarrassment and low self-confidence due to acne. The research highlights how acne influences women's online presence, with many avoiding selfies or using filters to modify their appearance. The study underscores the importance of support and management for women with acne to enhance self-acceptance and quality of life. [Extracted from the article]

Previous studies have suggested that dating app use can foster acceptance of the controversial idea of algorithm matchmaking. However, an integrated framework to explain this relationship is lacking. To address this gap, this study proposes a familiarity-breeds-trust hypothesis, which suggests that dating app use can increase trust in dating algorithms by raising algorithm awareness and enhancing perceived agency. To test this hypothesis, the current work employed an exploratory sequential mixed-methods design. Study 1 interviewed 19 dating app users and identified four types of critical algorithm perceptions that reflected perceived threats to user agency. Study 2 surveyed 371 users of Tantan—a mainstream Chinese dating app that resembles Tinder—and found a positive relationship between Tantan use and trust in dating algorithms. Additionally, Tantan use was positively related to algorithm awareness, which was negatively related to critical algorithm perceptions. Furthermore, critical algorithm perceptions negatively predicted trust in dating algorithms. The findings provide support for the familiarity-breeds-trust hypothesis. Theoretical implications for future human-algorithm interaction studies and practical suggestions are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Loneliness has been emphasized in almost every scenario of neoliberalism, which was aggravated with the Covid-19 pandemic. In this text we discuss loneliness as a business, dealing with how dating apps for gay, bisexual and transgender men use technology as a mechanism for mediating desires in an individualistic rationale based on economic exchange relations. The text, which emphasizes analysis, has as its starting points the approaches and intersections between two investigations carried out in Belo Horizonte and Fortaleza with app users. The main results endorse the focus on loneliness as a starting point and, surprisingly, as a point of arrival in tools that should promote encounter, which leads to broader reflections on the combinations between technical and social aspects of the platform economy in a capitalist production system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dating applications, such as Momo, have become trendy among the young population in China. While there have been some studies on online dating applications, limited research has explored the association between these applications and adolescents' mental health, and how they are related. This study investigates the motivations behind Chinese youth using online dating applications, the relationship between motivations and compulsive use, and their associations with subjective online success and mental health. Specifically, this study surveyed from February 2022 to March 2022, involving 451 young Chinese adults aged 18 to 35 (mean age = 25.17 years, SD = 4.25, and the biological sex distribution was 49.45% male and 50.55% female). The results indicate that motivations, including social approval, relationship seeking, sexual experiences, and socializing, were associated with adolescents' compulsive use of online dating apps. The compulsive use of online dating apps was associated with higher reports of feelings such as joviality, sadness, and anxiety. Furthermore, the association between compulsive use and young adults' mental health appeared to be mediated by subjective online success. The findings of this study provide a better understanding of the behavior and consequences of using online dating apps within the youth population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interactive communications technologies facilitate identity formation and socio-sexual connection among transgender and gender-diverse young people. However, within their communities, variations in technology use along ethno-racial, sexual and gendered lines, and as facilitators of sexual resilience during the early COVID-19 pandemic, remain under-studied. Among N = 230 transgender and gender-diverse young adults, surveyed between October 2020 and September 2021, latent class analyses characterised participants by preferred functional affordances, such as finding dates, sex and friends (Model 1), and by simultaneous account-keeping across social, dating and 'hookup' apps (Model 2). Werron and Ringel's typology of pandemic practices characterised qualitative descriptions of sexual decision-making attributed to COVID-19. Both fit indices favoured two-class solutions. Model 1 detected an n = 89, 43% 'high interactive communications technologies–enabled intimacy' (versus 'low technology-enabled intimacy') class, in which digitally mediated friendships, dates, sexual encounters and gay/lesbian sexualities, predominated. An n = 38, 17% 'high socio-sexual polymedia' (versus 'low polymedia') class in Model 2 was characterised by simultaneous social media, 'hookup' and dating app usage. 'High' subgroups saw statistically significant reductions in sexual partners, with the high polymedia class also associated with reductions in HIV testing. Qualitative results contextualised these reductions as, predominantly, 'responsive' pandemic practices: reactions to stay-at-home orders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a paucity of research on the links between gay dating apps usage and body dissatisfaction and disordered eating, especially for muscularity dissatisfaction and muscularity-oriented disordered eating in non-Western contexts. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the associations between gay dating apps usage, body image inflexibility, body dissatisfaction, and disordered eating with the inclusion of both body fat and muscularity dissatisfaction and both thinness–and muscularity–oriented disordered eating in a sample of Chinese young gay men. A total of 247 Chinese young gay men (mean age: 21.92 ± 2.74 years) were recruited. Gay dating apps usage, body fat dissatisfaction, muscularity dissatisfaction, body image inflexibility, and thinness–and muscularity-oriented disordered eating were evaluated. Pearson correlation and mediation analyses were conducted. Gay dating apps usage was positively correlated with body fat dissatisfaction (r =.20, p =.002), muscularity dissatisfaction (r =.17, p =.006), thinness-oriented disordered eating (r =.21, p <.001), and muscularity-oriented disordered eating (r =.29, p <.001), and these relationships could be mediated by body image inflexibility. Findings support technologically-informed prevention and intervention strategies for eating and body image disturbances in gay men in the Chinese context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing from a case-study, this paper examines 18-year-old Sabelo’s journey as a young black gay man in South Africa. Against the backdrop of heteronormativity and entrenched gender roles, Sabelo navigates a landscape where expressions of queer sexuality are often met with resistance. Focusing on a semi-structured interview, Sabelo’s narrative reveals the pressure to conform to traditional masculinity and a sense of living a “double life” where acceptance is tied to economic success. Sabelo “acts straight” to manage the obligatory norms around masculinity and “coming out” increased tensions and the pressure to conform. Despite this, the emergence of the dating platform, Grindr, reflects a paradoxical landscape of opportunities and possibilities. Using the concept of the “queer assemblage,” the paper argues for the significance of dating apps as more-than-human entities, in providing alternate pathways for sexual expression for young black gay identifying men. In conclusion, digital platforms offer space for transformative potential in subverting heteronormativity and providing queer individuals with spaces for self-expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In Brazil, ~35% of people living with HIV (PLHIV) have poor adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART). HIV-related stigma is associated with worst continuum of care outcomes, however evidence from Brazil is scarce. We explored pathways between HIV-related stigma dimensions and ART adherence among Brazilian cisgender gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (MSM) living with HIV. Methods: A sample of MSM ≥18 years was recruited online between February/March 2020 through advertisements on Hornet, a location-based dating app. Validated scales were used to assess ART adherence and HIV-related stigma. Indirect and direct pathways between HIV-related stigma dimensions and ART adherence were estimated using structural equation models while considering socio-demographic and substance use related variables. Models were estimated using mean- and variance-adjusted weighted least squares, and goodness of fit indices were calculated. Findings: Among 1,719 MSM living with HIV who reported starting ART, 70% were adherent. There was evidence of indirect effects of concerns about public attitudes (standardized coefficient (SC) = -0.095, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) = -0.172 - -0.017) and personalized HIV-stigma (SC = -0.022, 95%CI = -0.043 - -0.001) on ART adherence mediated through negative self-image. Personalized HIV stigma and concerns about public attitudes were both positively associated with negative self-image (SC = 0.129, 95%CI = 0.066–0.193; SC = 0.549, 95%CI = 0.494–0.603), and concerns about public attitudes was associated with HIV disclosure concerns (SC = 0.522, 95%CI = 0.463–0.581). However, the direct paths from personalized HIV stigma and concerns about public attitudes to ART adherence were not significant. Interpretation: Our research underscores the critical need for multifaceted interventions to eliminate HIV-related stigma at both individual and societal levels. At the individual level, psychotherapeutic interventions to improve self-image might helpful. Additionally, public policy should aim to dismantle structural stigma with awareness campaigns on various media channels, integration of anti-stigma curriculum into schools, and training for professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sexual scripts are the behavioral patterns in people’s performance of sexualities. As hegemonic patriarchal sexual scripts assign submissive roles to women in heterosexual intimacy, this study explores how heterosexual women can take a proactive role in online dating with the aid of dating app affordances. Based on interviews with 18 heterosexual women living in urban China, our findings show that women can strategically craft their user profiles to not only attract certain types of men they desire, but also filter out undesirable men. They can use the topics they extract from men’s profiles to take the initiative to start conversations with men when they are willing to. By switching media platforms and/or communication modalities, they can fuel relationship development. Meanwhile, they manage sexual risks through communication with their dates about sex and precautions against unexpected situations in hook-ups. They have also created positive meanings for casual sex: They regard women’s right to engage in hook-ups as a condition for gender equality, perceive casual sexual relations as a form of meaningful social connection, and endow such relations with romantic potential. They may also hold positive attitudes toward their dating app use, as they may have derived confidence and sociability from it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reports a study comparing the impact of a mindfulness app in mitigating dating anxieties and promoting self-esteem, healthy relationships and school satisfaction among high schoolers vis-à-vis a relationship advice app. A pre- and post-test-design study was conducted with high schoolers in two South Asian cities. Participants of the relationship advice app cohort reported no significant changes in post-test outcomes. Participants of the mindfulness app cohort reported significantly lower post-test dating anxiety scores and higher self-esteem, perceived support and school satisfaction scores. Particularly, the mindfulness app was more effective for high school girls, Christians, middle class students, high schoolers with mothers as primary caregivers, participants whose primary caregivers had postgraduate and higher qualifications, who lived in standard family set-ups with parents and siblings, and who were regular in reading mindfulness posts and doing the recommended homework. Intervention compliance mediated the association between significant socio-demographic predictors and gains/changes in outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]