INTERVIEWS
Other than collecting data from surveys, our group conducted interviews with folks that have experiences on dating apps so gain a better sense of how it was like maneuvering through Tinder and Bumble. The central purpose of the interviews was to better understand DBDAs through a first-hand account of them, so below, we have attached examples of some information we were able to gather through these conversations.
male, 20, straight
Q: What app/apps are you using for dating?
A: Tinder, it's the most popular one and stuck with it
Q: What are intentions for being on the app?
A: it varies from a hookup or wanting a relationship
Q: How do you determine so quickly, if you're going to swipe right on someone?
A: 90% of they are physically attractive 10% from their bio
Q: Would you say that dating apps make it easier to date?
A: real life is easier because setting up a conversation is simpler, rather that through the app
Q: Would you meet up with a person you met on a dating app?
A: no, I've tried but 2-3 times, but got ghosted
Q: Do you swipe more left, right, or is it about even?
A: 50/50 depends, if I'm willing to lower standards for the day
female, 21, bi-curious
Q: What app/apps are you using for dating?
A: Tinder and Bumble, but I prefer Tinder because of the response rates and the swiping rather than scrolling on Bumble.
Q: What are intentions for being on the apps?
A: no intentions really, searching for "romantic validation"
Q: What makes you automatically swipe left?
A: no bio, photos with women that aren't relatives, the difference in political stance, fishing pictures, using their dog as a prop
Q: What intrigues you to swipe right?
A: invitation to engage in conversation, good fashion sense, linked music (compatible taste), humor/wit displayed in the bio
Q: What three things do you notice first?
A: Hairline, Name (if there's an association for someone with the same name, swipes left), Bio
Q: How would you describe the snap-judgment determinations you make one the app? How do you do this?
A: the lighting of the photo is telling, the vibe you get from the pictures, the grungier someone looks the more approachable, clean styles sometimes indicate that someone is a goody-two-shoes and someone else takes their pictures for them
female, 22, bisexual
Q: What app/apps are you using for dating?
A: Tinder and Bumble, primarily Tinder because it has more preferences and is easier to use
Q: What are intentions for being on the app?
A: just going with the flow, really depends on who I match with
Q: What would make you swipe left immediately?
A: if they had no bio, it's a sign they just want sex
Q: What has been the outcome of you using dating apps?
A: reluctant to meet people and a lot of self-sabotaging, which leads to ghosting
Q: Would you say dating in person is easier?
A: yes, I identify as extroverted in person and introverted on dating apps. in-person dating is simpler, and the physical aspect of it adds more dimension
Q: Are there any changes you would like to see on the apps you use?
A: free access to premium features and regulate pictures that people post on their profile
male, 23, straight
Q: What app/apps have you used for dating?
A: both Bumble and Tinder, but not active anymore
Q: What did you typically notice first on these apps?
A: age (looking for someone in age group), filters on pictures (a negative), their face (looks genuinely happy, not staged pictures)
Q: What did you put more effort in when creating your profile?
A: the bio
Q: What made you get off dating apps?
A: matched with bots too often and never really led to good lasting matches
Q: What is a challenge in dating apps?
A: difficult to make a connection, almost like putting on a show and it feels impersonal, cannot truly show personality
Q: From Tinder and Bumble, which did you prefer?
A: Bumble over Tinder because I like that the girl messages first and not as many bots as Tinder.