The players of micro-dating: Individual and gender differences in goal orientations toward micro-dating apps

Authors

  • Christopher J. Carpenter Western Illinois University
  • Bree McEwan Western Illinois University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5210/fm.v21i5.6187

Keywords:

micro-dating, online dating, romantic relationships, sensation-seeking, sociosexual orientation, sex

Abstract

Dating apps on smartphones have brought speed dating on the Internet to a new level. This exploratory investigation sought to determine what kinds of people use these apps, what their motivations are, and what precautions they take before meeting someone. One hundred and seventy-three non-users and 57 current users of dating apps were surveyed. The data suggest that the strongest motive for using dating apps is not for dating or sex, but for entertainment. On the other hand, the more frequent users of these apps are people whose personalities are predisposed towards varied sexual partners. These different motives may represent a disconnect between those who wish to kill time and those who are seeking sexual partners.

Author Biographies

Christopher J. Carpenter, Western Illinois University

Department of Communication

Assistant Professor

Bree McEwan, Western Illinois University

Department of Communication

Associate Professor

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Published

2016-04-17

How to Cite

Carpenter, C. J., & McEwan, B. (2016). The players of micro-dating: Individual and gender differences in goal orientations toward micro-dating apps. First Monday, 21(5). https://doi.org/10.5210/fm.v21i5.6187

Issue

Section

Articles