Dating in the 21st century: How important is authenticity for mobile dating apps?
(2017) BUSN39 20171Department of Business Administration
- Abstract
- Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to shed light on which role authenticity plays in mobile dating apps, an environment where users can present themselves only with a limited amount of information. By investigating how users create their profiles and evaluate others, the existing knowledge on authenticity and self-presentation can be advanced.
Methodology: The research applied a relativist and social constructionist approach as authenticity and self-presentation on mobile dating apps is a process which is shaped by people and influenced by their behaviours and social factors. A qualitative research design was applied, as it offered in-depth comprehension and awareness about the research topic. The data collected to answer the... (More) - Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to shed light on which role authenticity plays in mobile dating apps, an environment where users can present themselves only with a limited amount of information. By investigating how users create their profiles and evaluate others, the existing knowledge on authenticity and self-presentation can be advanced.
Methodology: The research applied a relativist and social constructionist approach as authenticity and self-presentation on mobile dating apps is a process which is shaped by people and influenced by their behaviours and social factors. A qualitative research design was applied, as it offered in-depth comprehension and awareness about the research topic. The data collected to answer the research questions were visual data and semi-structured interviews. A combination of grounded and visual semiotic analysis was used, to effectively analyse the data.
Theoretical Perspective: This study conducts consumer research and draws on the theory of self-presentation and authenticity. Both are relevant concepts regarding mobile dating apps. Self-presentation is important, due to its ubiquity in social life and persistent stance in dating and authenticity because of its importance in interpersonal relationships. Further, prior literature on online and mobile dating regarding self-presentation and authenticity was examined.
Empirical Data: The researchers combined in a mixed method approach semi-structured interviews with visual data in form participants’ profile picture. Overall, nine interviews with Tinder users were conducted and visual data from their profiles was obtained and seven were included in the presentation and findings chapter due to the richness of the data.
Conclusion: The developed concept, Hypocritical Authenticity, illustrates that authenticity in mobile dating is more a matter of social desirability than a deeply rooted personal desire. The new concept provides a different layer to the discussion on authenticity for consumers. Regarding self-presentation, users of mobile dating apps presented themselves often with an ought self instead of their true or ideal selves, which is not inevitably authentic. This showed that, although consumers crave authenticity in other context, in the actual consumers’ behaviour in mobile dating it is not as important. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/8919608
- author
- Filter, Franziska LU and Magyar, Lara Sophie LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- BUSN39 20171
- year
- 2017
- type
- H1 - Master's Degree (One Year)
- subject
- keywords
- Authenticity, mobile dating apps, Hypocritical Authenticity, Tinder, self-presentation, ought self
- language
- English
- id
- 8919608
- date added to LUP
- 2017-08-11 08:07:23
- date last changed
- 2017-08-11 08:07:23
@misc{8919608,
abstract = {{Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to shed light on which role authenticity plays in mobile dating apps, an environment where users can present themselves only with a limited amount of information. By investigating how users create their profiles and evaluate others, the existing knowledge on authenticity and self-presentation can be advanced.
Methodology: The research applied a relativist and social constructionist approach as authenticity and self-presentation on mobile dating apps is a process which is shaped by people and influenced by their behaviours and social factors. A qualitative research design was applied, as it offered in-depth comprehension and awareness about the research topic. The data collected to answer the research questions were visual data and semi-structured interviews. A combination of grounded and visual semiotic analysis was used, to effectively analyse the data.
Theoretical Perspective: This study conducts consumer research and draws on the theory of self-presentation and authenticity. Both are relevant concepts regarding mobile dating apps. Self-presentation is important, due to its ubiquity in social life and persistent stance in dating and authenticity because of its importance in interpersonal relationships. Further, prior literature on online and mobile dating regarding self-presentation and authenticity was examined.
Empirical Data: The researchers combined in a mixed method approach semi-structured interviews with visual data in form participants’ profile picture. Overall, nine interviews with Tinder users were conducted and visual data from their profiles was obtained and seven were included in the presentation and findings chapter due to the richness of the data.
Conclusion: The developed concept, Hypocritical Authenticity, illustrates that authenticity in mobile dating is more a matter of social desirability than a deeply rooted personal desire. The new concept provides a different layer to the discussion on authenticity for consumers. Regarding self-presentation, users of mobile dating apps presented themselves often with an ought self instead of their true or ideal selves, which is not inevitably authentic. This showed that, although consumers crave authenticity in other context, in the actual consumers’ behaviour in mobile dating it is not as important.}},
author = {{Filter, Franziska and Magyar, Lara Sophie}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Dating in the 21st century: How important is authenticity for mobile dating apps?}},
year = {{2017}},
}