“Mr Right Now”: Temporality of relationship formation on gay mobile dating apps

Abstract

Mobile dating apps with geolocation function have gained popularity for fostering social, romantic, and sexual connections between nearby strangers. Through in-depth interviews and focus-group discussions with 74 users of gay mobile dating apps (Grindr and Jack’d) in Hong Kong, this study illustrates how the sociological concept of time can shed light on users’ experience of relationship formation through these apps. Specifically, the accelerated tempo of interactions facilitated by perpetual connectivity, mutual proximity awareness, and instant messaging was seen to entail instantaneous and ephemeral relationships. The interface design, which foregrounds profile photos and backgrounds textual self-descriptions, was perceived to structure the sequence of browsing and screening in favor of physical appearance and users seeking casual hook-ups. The findings suggest that the temporality of browsing and exchange on apps is incongruous with the temporal norms prescribing formation of friendship and long-term romance. Such incongruity affects the perceived quality and satisfaction of app use, frustrating users who seek more durable relationships.

Cyberintimacy: A Scoping Review of Technology-Mediated Romance in the Digital Age

“…Although gay men have been at the forefront of technology use in the context of romantic relationships, 9,10 the majority of the existing research on this population focuses on risky sexual behaviors relating to public health concerns. [69][70][71] The shortfall of empirical research also extends other populations such as older adults 72,73 and individuals with religious beliefs, 74,75 who may experience cyberintimacy on their own terms.…”

Looking for “interesting people”: Chinese gay men’s exploration of relationship development on dating apps

“…In many studies on gay dating apps, engagement with casual sex seems to thwart the development of social relationships. Due to the affordances of visual dominance and synchronicity, dating apps are perceived by users to privilege casual sex and impede relationship development (Yeo & Fung, 2018). Those who look for "meaningful connections" are often frustrated (Brubaker, Ananny, & Crawford, 2014).…”

“…This frame may lose its explanatory power when it comes to a broader landscape of gay men's dating app use. Users who look for casual sex can be open to romance, and vice versa (Chan, 2018;Yeo & Fung, 2018). Many tend to be flexible regarding their goals, which are often negotiated over time through interaction (Fitzpatrick & Birnholtz, 2016).…”

The mediation of gay men's lives: A review on gay dating app studies

“…Nevertheless, this sociability, or the amiable ambiance among gay men on the apps, seems to be counterbalanced by one's reduced obligation to the other, which is instigated by dating apps' blocking capacity (Davis et al, ). Moreover, as shown in Yeo and Fung's () study based in Hong Kong, users who seek more durable relationships can be frustrated by the incongruence between the accelerated tempo of browsing and exchange on apps and the normative tempo prescribing formation of friendships and romantic relationships. Those “accelerated relationships” are perceived by some users to be ephemeral.…”

“…Moreover, as shown in Yeo and Fung's (2017) study based in Hong Kong, users who seek more durable relationships can be frustrated by the incongruence between the accelerated tempo of browsing and exchange on apps and the normative tempo prescribing formation of friendships and romantic relationships. Those "accelerated relationships" are perceived by some users to be ephemeral.…”