The most popular dating app for gay men, Grindr, is designed to encourage users to meet up and have sex quickly and anonymously. Users can see who is online nearby and exchange messages without revealing their identities. This makes it easier for them to find partners for casual encounters, but also opens the door to risky behavior like hooking up with strangers or contracting STDs.
Other apps, such as Tinder and Bumble, are more relationship-oriented, allowing users to swipe through potential matches and chat before meeting in person. But even these platforms can be used for casual sex if users choose to ignore the app's restrictions.
Some users may create fake accounts or lie about their intentions in order to get laid faster.
Platforms like OkCupid and Match allow for longer profiles and more detailed communication between users.
They don't always facilitate intimacy because they prioritize matching based on surface-level factors like appearance and job title. And while these apps offer the option of video chatting before meeting in person, this feature can be abused by people who aren't serious about finding a partner.
Apps that emphasize shared interests and hobbies, like MeetMe and Hinge, promote deeper connections and relationships. But they still require effort from both parties to make things work out long term.
Dating apps tend to reinforce cultural norms around casual sex rather than promoting meaningful relationships. The structural affordances of these platforms—visibility, notifications, ephemeral messaging—mediate relational expectations and moral imagination. They make it easy to have sex quickly and anonymously without considering the consequences or risk of getting hurt. This is especially problematic for marginalized groups like LGBTQ+ individuals, who already face discrimination in real life.
I am interested in learning more about how erotic platforms shape our sexual desires and behaviors. How do we negotiate safety and consent when using these apps? What are the potential risks and rewards of online dating? Are there any positive impacts on mental health or self-esteem? Do these apps create unrealistic expectations for relationships?
How do the structural affordances of erotic platforms—visibility, notifications, ephemeral messaging—mediate relational expectations and moral imagination?
Researchers have investigated how the structural features of erotic platforms like visibility, notifications, and ephemeral messaging can mediate users' relational expectations and their conception of morality (Carnes et al. , 2019; Kaur & Bailenson, 2018). Visibility refers to the extent to which users are visible on the platform, while notifications include messages that inform them about other users' activities.