Eighteenth International Conference on Interdisciplinary Social Sciences

Abstract

Digital intimates are not new. Yet we have continued to see the rapid development of how users define themselves on dating apps. The data included is based on five indepth interviews of Grindr users, whereby using a novel research methodology, were able to discuss their profile curation in detail, and their understanding of identity on Grindr. Gender and humour were of the most distinguished themes, and provided insights into thinking about how much dating app profile data, although static, can still offer huge amounts of analysis, and more so when talking to participants about their thought processes and negotiations while presenting themselves on dating app platforms. Ultimately, the link between sexual position and gender was inseperable for some users, and the inclusion of listing it led to participants needing to redefine their boundaries of gender and sexuality at times. Humour was used less consciously within users creative written descriptions of themselves, reflecting their insecurities.