To meet or not to meet? Measuring motivations and risks as predictors of outcomes in the use of mobile dating applications in China

Abstract

Mobile dating applications (MDAs), such as Momo and Tinder, allow mobile phone owners to meet potential mates through social media, thus contributing to the radicalization of Chinese attitudes toward sex. Although these applications may gratify the needs of users for love and sex, the potential of risk is often overlooked. However, it should be considered in their decision regarding whether to meet a stranger or not. This study investigated the motivations and risks involved in the use of MDAs to meet strangers and the outcomes of using this technology. The results showed that sexuality was the only predictor of the reasons that people use MDAs to meet people offline for dates and casual sex. Among the perceived risks of mobile dating, only the fear of self-exposure to friends, professional networks, and the community significantly explained why users would not meet people offline for casual sex.

Keywords:

• new media
• online dating
• mobile dating applications
• dating risks
• uses and gratification

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to express their gratitude to Professor Louis Leung, Editor Francis Lee, and the two anonymous reviewers for their helpful and insightful comments on the earlier drafts of this article.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Randy Jay C. Solis

Randy Jay C. Solis is an assistant professor at the University of the Philippines in Diliman. Currently, he is a PhD student at the School of Journalism and Communication at The Chinese University of Hong Kong. His research interests include new media, development, and health communication, children, and gender studies. His research has been published in the M/C Journal, Pilipinas: A Journal of Philippine Studies, and Plaridel: A Philippine Journal of Communication, Media, and Society.

Ka Yee J. Wong

Janice Ka Yee Wong is a PhD student in the School of Journalism & Communication, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK). Using qualitative and quantitative methods, her research interests span the comparison between traditional and new media, self-identity, the effects of media on the cultural industry, especially on cosmetic surgery, and gender studies.