OK Cupid, Stop Bumbling around and Match Me Tinder: Using Dating Apps Across the Life Course

Abstract

Social connectedness, sex, and intimacy are all factors associated with positive aging, facing individuals in society across the life course. Phenomenal technological developments in the 21st century have led to the increased use of smartphones, mobile apps, and dating apps for a myriad of services, and engagements. This paper focuses on two specific cohorts’ who have the opportunity to engage with dating apps, older adults and young citizens with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions, and highlights issues related to the intersection of technology, societal constructions of age, disability, and online dating.

Shiver Me Tinders and Ring a Ding for a Fling—Sex Tech Use during COVID-19: Findings from a UK Study

“…Previous studies show that many people typically seek out companionship, hook-ups, relationships, and intimacy via dating apps [ 4 ]. However, what is missing from current research is the dating app experiences of people during the pandemic and of people in mid- and later life.…”

“…Nikiforova [ 21 ] notes 27% of adults aged between 18 and 24 years and who are users of dating apps have reported feeling lonely [ 22 , 23 ]. Dating apps offer users access to a wide range of intimacy, relationships, one-night stands/hook-ups, sexual preferences, and sub-culture sexual interests [ 4 , 10 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 ].…”

Improving Older People’s Lives Through Digital Technology and Practices

“…As a refreshing change to viewing older people as in need of technologies to help them with safety, health or illness, the potential for technology to help people across the life course find a spouse, partner, a lover and/or experience differing levels of intimacy is explored in Marston et al (2020a) . In this eighth paper in this special issue, a review was conducted by Marston et al (2020a) , who explore and discuss the importance of sex and intimacy for older adults and people with life-limiting and life-threatening health conditions (LLTCs).…”

“…As a refreshing change to viewing older people as in need of technologies to help them with safety, health or illness, the potential for technology to help people across the life course find a spouse, partner, a lover and/or experience differing levels of intimacy is explored in Marston et al (2020a) . In this eighth paper in this special issue, a review was conducted by Marston et al (2020a) , who explore and discuss the importance of sex and intimacy for older adults and people with life-limiting and life-threatening health conditions (LLTCs). Their extensive review of contemporary dating apps highlights the breadth of this growing area of research, the differences surrounding the verification of legitimate users on respective dating apps, cost of subscriptions, age classifications and the app ‘category’.…”

“…Their extensive review of contemporary dating apps highlights the breadth of this growing area of research, the differences surrounding the verification of legitimate users on respective dating apps, cost of subscriptions, age classifications and the app ‘category’. Concluding this in-depth review, Marston et al (2020a) propose a series of recommendations for multiple agencies including developers, governments and public sector workers (e.g. police).…”