Abstract
Location-based real-time dating (LBRTD) apps have become an increasingly common way for people to broaden their social network and meet others for the purposes of dating, friendship, and more. This investigation focused on Tinder, presently the most widely-used LBRTD app. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with twenty-three current and recent Tinder users to gain insight into their self-presentation strategies and impressions of others on the app. The questions concentrated around four major topic areas: use of photos, use of bio text, perception of others, and real or imagined deception. A grounded theory approach was used to frame the data. From this, four major themes were derived that characterized Tinder as a unique social space. First, Tinder users maintained an idealistic yet authentic portrayal of the self. Secondly, self-presentation was governed by gender norms, both societal and unique to the app. Thirdly, while these strategies were deliberately planned, they were often structured to appear nonchalant. Finally, concerns about "catfishing" and the authenticity of others shaped both how users presented themselves and the others they chose to interact with on the app. The study concluded by suggesting multiple prospective research directions into this intriguing and under-researched field.
Notes
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Graduation Date
2018
Semester
Fall
Advisor
Hinojosa, Ramon
Degree
Master of Arts (M.A.)
College
College of Sciences
Department
Sociology
Degree Program
Applied Sociology
Format
application/pdf
Identifier
CFE0007325
URL
http://purl.fcla.edu/fcla/etd/CFE0007325
Language
English
Release Date
December 2018
Length of Campus-only Access
None
Access Status
Masters Thesis (Open Access)
STARS Citation
Dunlop, Johnathan, "App-ily Ever After - Self-Presentation and Perception of Others on the Dating App Tinder" (2018). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 6185.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/etd/6185