Självpresentation, matchining och konsumtion på dejtingappar : En teknografisk analys av dejtingapparna Tinder, Hinge och Bumbles gränssnitt

Self presentation, matching and consumption on dating applications - A critical analysis of affordances in the interface on Tinder, Hinge and Bumble. Dating through mobile applications is a normalized and common practice in todays society. To which degree apps guide and control us is something we tend to not put a lot of effort into, something this paper takes closer look on. The aim of this study has been to investigate how identities, norms, matching and behavioral patterns are made possible and are limited based on the design and functions on the dating apps. With a technological approach to medias impact on human behaviour a critical perspective was applied to reveal the ways in which corporate needs affect aspects of self presentation and matchmaking. In addition to this sociological theories were applied to let us dig even deeper into our main questions. With an interface analysis, affordances helped us analyze how the apps enable self presentation, matches and how they encourage users to make purchases in the apps. The results showed that the apps are, despite a few unique functions, very similar to one another. Some of the main findings are that even though the dating apps try to be as inclusive as possible they still promote the standard form of love because of how they dispose elements around the apps interface. The wide range of options and the apps collection of data showed that self presentation is not always completely authentic and the apps themself may not be as transparent with all their intentions as one could hope.