Author(s): Katharine Tesar
Mentor(s): Josh Brown
Institution SUU
Experiences on dating apps vary between the sexes. Social stereotypes help explain why women might feel like dating app usage is more dangerous for women than men, while men might feel like women have an easier time getting affirming feedback on dating apps. Our research examined how biological males and females view dating apps, as well as how males and females perceive the experience of the opposite sex on dating apps. We tested the hypothesis that men and women would not be able to accurately perceive the experiences of the opposite sex on dating apps. Our findings showed that men and women are not able to accurately perceive the experiences of the opposite sex on dating apps. According to the participants’ open-ended responses, the majority of biological men and women are dissatisfied with their experiences on dating apps, while a small portion reported meeting their current partner on a dating app. This study was able to illuminate the understanding of dating app culture, as well as how the sexes differ in their experiences and perceptions of experiences on dating apps.