Sigler

Dating Apps: The Future of Relationships?

Samantha Sigler
Mass Communication Research Methods
Dr. Sivek
May 27, 2014

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Introduction
Internet dating and dating apps have revolutionized the way communication takes place
between potential couples. Taking away awkward encounters and intimidating first dates, it
appears as though people are becoming more accepting of using online dating as a tool to meet
and date others. Past studies have found that over time people have become more accepting of
online dating as a legitimate way to meet potential partners, as more than half of the general
public knows someone who has met their significant other through an online dating website. This
study focuses on discovering whether substantial amounts of people consider online dating and
dating apps as an acceptable way to meet people, as well as whether age or gender may impact
peoples views on using online dating or dating apps. A convenience survey was conducted
through Google Forms, which was then distributed on Facebook through snowball sampling,
asking whether respondents have used the app, if they have met people through the app and how
they feel about online dating overall.
This study looked at three main independent variables: age, gender and opinion. With
124 responses, results showed that people who have not used dating apps do not agree with the
statement dating apps are fun to use and are not willing to date someone they met through a
dating app or online dating website, while those who have do agree with the statement and are
willing to date someone they met through dating apps and websites. Additionally, results found
that women are less likely to date someone they met through a dating app than men; however, a
majority of women also disagree with the statement it is pathetic when people use dating apps.
Moreover, people ages 23 to 25 are the mostly likely to date someone they met through a dating
app.

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Literature Review
Relationships have come a long way since the creation of the Internet and popularization
of social media. It is much easier now to connect with long-lost friends, distant family as well as
stay connected with loved ones than ever before. This easy access to constant connection has
also changed the ways in which people find partners, as is evident with the steady increase of
people using online dating and dating apps. According to a Pew Research Center study, 59
percent of Americans in 2013 stated that online dating is a good way to meet people, as opposed
to only 44 percent of Americans in 2005 (Smith, 2014). Additionally, dating apps, such as Tinder
and Grindr, have also become more popular throughout the United States. Though Tinder was
first launched in 2013, the dating app grows by an estimated 15 percent each week and
approximately 450 million profiles are being rated each day (Premuzic, 2014). These
applications and websites are not only becoming popular among older adults, but among collegeaged students as well. According to the Pew Research Center study, 10 percent of online daters
are ages 18 to 24, coming in third behind the 25 to 34 (22 percent of users) and 35 to 44 (17
percent of users) age ranges (Smith, 2014). The increase in Americansparticularly collegeaged studentsuse of online dating websites and dating apps can be best understood through
looking at the social stigmas, biases and negative connotations surrounding online dating and
dating apps and the benefits and risks of using these applications and websites, as well as
examining aspects about online dating and dating apps that have not yet been thoroughly
researched.
Dating apps are also making it easier for people to accept or reject people with the simple
swipe of finger. As dating apps become more common, it also appears as though college students
are jumping on the bandwagon and using these apps as a way to meet others both on campus and

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off campus. For example, Tinder is a dating app that allows people to meet others in their area by
connecting to Facebook and searching for people with common interests. Associated with
phrases such as YOSO (you only swipe once) and Tinder on, it appears as thought this app is
targeted toward a younger generation than most online dating websites. After hearing multiple
stories of college students meeting others through Tinder, I became curious as to if and why this
form of dating has become accepted as a norm throughout society.
While the social changes taking place in regards to online dating and dating apps can be
explained through various factors, one common explanation for the dissolving stigma around
dating apps is the erosion of traditional family values and model (Lewis, 2006). Lewis (2006)
argues that because there is now a wider variety of choices and options when choosing partners,
the meaning behind what constitutes a partnership has also undergone extensive change.
However, the same study also found that uncertainties have increased among individuals as the
possibilities for meeting potential partners continues to increase. As traditional family structures
and perceived values surrounding marriage shift throughout society, individuals are beginning to
feel more individual responsibility for self-provisioning, causing many people to feel pressured
to find an ideal partner that will provide for them (Lewis, 2006). Thus, many individuals are
turning to online data and dating apps to make fulfilling self-provision easier. However,
although an increasing amount of people are turning to online dating and dating apps to find
significant others, many people still feel that a stigma continues to surround online dating and
dating apps. For example, while 38 percent of single Internet users searching for partners have
tried online dating, 21 percent of Internet users believe that using online dating websites makes
people appear desperate (Kelly, 2013). One explanation for this may be that people do not want
to admit having trouble in their romantic life, regardless of whether they use online dating or

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dating apps themselves (Kelly, 2013). Thus, it is becoming clear that the stigma surrounding
online dating has not gone away entirely as new societys definition of partnerships and selfprovision changes, however, it is beginning to dissolve as more and more individuals try their
luck with the dating apps and websites.
As far as benefits and risks are concerned, a study analyzing the real and perceived risks
of online dating found that while many subjects who participate in online dating were worried
about deception and being emotionally or physically harmed, the subjects continued to use online
dating to seek potential partners (Couch, Liamputtong, and Pitts, 2012). The same article found
that the Internet has also been construed as a risky environment since it became easily available
to the wider population, which plays a large role in individuals viewing the Internet as a risky
place (Couch, Liamputtong, and Pitts, 2012). However, online dating users continue to use
dating websites and apps, accepting the risks that may come along with such behavior. Thus,
individuals using online dating and dating apps perceive the benefits of finding a potential
partner and fulfilling their desires to be more than the perceived risks and dangers of using online
dating and dating apps. Additionally, socializing online (not exclusively for dating purposes) is
also perceived as a great benefit, as 84 percent of Internet users belong to a group or organization
with an online presence, and 34 percent of Internet users report that support from other Internet
users has played a large role in making major decisions (Clemmit, 2006). Furthermore, many
individuals who use dating apps such as Tinder do not consider the app to be like other dating
apps, as creating an account is easily done and there is no fear of rejection because users are only
notified of mutual matches (Tinder, 2013). Thus, the benefits, including being easily accessible
with no apparent negative ramifications, outweighs the potential perceived risks for many dating
app and online users.

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Something that has not yet been well explored is why dating apps are gaining popularity
among young adults. While it is clear that the dating app Tinder specifically targets college
students, it is still unclear as to why young adults are so receptive to the new approach to dating
(Online dating, 2014). While dating apps growing popularity can be attributed to young adults
being more at ease with technology and perspectives about online dating are changing as years
go by, why these changes are taking place is still unclear (Online dating, 2014). One potential
explanation could be that dating apps are less committal than traditional online dating websites,
such as EHarmony and OKCupid, which many people associate with marriage and lifelong
relationships (Gupta, Murtha, and Patel, 2012). Because of dating apps easy accessibility, it may
appear as though any interactions on the app are more causal and fun as opposed to serious and
long lasting. Additionally, one study found that online dating is now the second-most common
way to meet couples, with 30 to 40 percent of singles trying out some 1,500 services, from sites
to apps (Making, 2013). With the steady increase in users, it could also be argued that the
increase in online dating and dating apps could be due to pressure from others in society who
encourage others to use online dating websites and apps. Lastly, it could also be argued that users
of online dating and dating apps perceive their interactions online to be social capital, helping
people feel more connected with others around them (Ellison and Steinfield, 2007). However,
not enough research has been conducted to fully support any of these explanations. Thus,
research on why changes in social stigmas surrounding online dating and dating apps occur
would help confirm or reject these theories.

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Methods
To measure the whether substantial amounts of people consider online dating and dating
apps as an acceptable way to meet people, as well as whether age or gender may affect peoples
views on using online dating or dating apps, an online survey was created. More specifically, this
survey was executed through a cross-sectional survey, obtaining respondents views on online
dating and dating apps at this moment in time. Due to the limited amount of time to conduct this
research, the survey will be created through Google Forms and distributed via snowball sampling
through Facebook. This research was conducted through an online survey to gain quick
responses to various questions related to online dating and dating apps.
Although it would have been more beneficial to conduct a trend study to gain a better
idea of changes in public opinion over time, a cross-sectional survey will be useful in comparing
how people view online dating and dating apps today to other previous research on online dating
and dating apps. For example, the Pew Research Center has conducted numerous studies on
peoples perceptions of online dating and dating apps over time, such as in 2005 and in 2013
when they asked respondents their views on online dating (Smith, 2014). Methods employed by
other researchers in previous studies include mainly surveys, such as the Pew Research Center
and a study conducted at Stanford University (Rosenbloom, 2011). Thus, distributing a survey
for this study would be easiest to compare research results to other similar studies to see whether
any significant differences in public opinion on dating apps and online dating appear.
Based on the overall goal of this study and previous studies also conducted on this topic,
the research questions for this study will include the following:
RQ1: How acceptable are people in different age ranges of using online dating and
dating apps to meet people?
RQ2: How frequently do men and women use dating apps to meet potential partners?

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RQ3: Do a significant amount of people consider online dating and dating apps as an
acceptable way to meet people?
RQ4: Does participation in online dating or dating apps play a large role in peoples
views on using online dating or dating apps?
The survey created to conduct this research aimed to answer all of these research
questions through a funneling technique, beginning to broad, general questions and moving
toward more specific and somewhat personal questions.
Limitations of this research method and sampling strategy include being unable to see
changes in peoples perceptions over time. Because there is a limited amount of time for this
research, a trend study cannot be conducted, which would be able to capture any changes over
time through my own research. Instead, this study will be reliant on other previous research on
this topic to use as a comparison for changes in public opinion on dating apps and online dating
over time. Additionally, using a snowball sampling method also means that this study will be
reliant on other people to complete the survey over social media and share it with others through
their own profiles. This will not provide a variety of generalizable results, as it would be more
beneficial to conduct a probability sampling, such as stratified random sampling, to obtain more
generalizable results. However, strengths of this research method include speed and convenience,
as it is relatively easy for people to take online surveys, making them more likely to participate
in my research study. This study will also be able to reach a larger amount of the target
population through an online survey than if the study were to be conducted through a focus
group or other type of survey method. Lastly, conducting an online survey will also allow the
results to be quickly processed.

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Results
Overall, 124 participants answered the survey, with 93 being female, 30 being male and
one participant preferring not to answer, with 61 percent of the participants answering that they
are currently in a committed relationship. The most frequent age range was 21 to 22 years old,
with ages ranging from 17 to 62 years old. Additionally, 73 percent know someone who has used
a dating app, such as Tinder, to meet others, with 39 percent of those people ending up in a
relationship for longer than three months with someone they had met through a dating app.
However, only 30 percent answered that they had ever used a dating app. Moreover, 97 percent
of participants think that people use dating apps and online dating more today than in 2001.
Age:
The first research question examines how acceptable people in different age ranges are of
using online dating and dating apps to meet people. The most significant results were found
between the statements it is pathetic when people use dating apps and I would date someone I
met through a dating app. With regard to age ranges impacting views of dating apps and online
dating, participants ages 21 to 22 disagreed the most frequently with the statement it is pathetic
when people use dating apps, with 31 percent strongly disagreeing and 29 percent staying
neutral. Participants ages 18 to 20 were next, with 26 percent disagreeing and 49 percent staying
neutral (see table 1, section 1).
Additionally, participants ages 18 to 20 disagreed the most with the statement I would
date someone I met through a dating app, with 41 percent disagreeing. Participants between the
ages of 21 to 22 were next, with 22.4 percent disagreeing and 20.4 percent strongly disagreeing
with the statement. A total of 26 percent of participants ages 18 to 20 stayed neutral, while 31
percent of participants ages 21 to 22 stayed neutral (see table 1, section 2).

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Table 1
Cross tabulation of age with opinion statements
Age
n/a
(%)
(n=3)

17
(%)
(n=1)

It is pathetic when people

use dating apps
0
Strongly
66.7

18-20
(%)
(n=46)

21-22
(%)
(n=49)

23-25
(%)
(n=13)

26-34
(%)
(n=5)

35
(%)
(n=1)

42
(%)
(n=1)

43
(%)
(n=2)

44
(%)
(n=1)

62
(%)
(n=1)

10.9

30.6

38.5

100

100

disagree
Disagree

26.1

16.3

38.5

80

100

Neutral

33.3

100

47.8

28.6

7.7

20

100

Agree

15.2

18.4

15.4

100

Strongly
agree

6.1

Note: n=124, significant at the p<.05

I would date someone I

met through a dating
app
100
Strongly
0
disagree
Disagree

33.3

8.7

20.4

7.7

100

41.3

22.4

7.7

60

50

100

100

Neutral

33.3

26.1

30.6

23.1

20

Agree

33.3

17.4

18.4

23.1

20

50

6.5

8.2

38.5

100

Strongly
agree

Note: n=124, significant at the p=.085

Gender:
The second research questions examines how frequently men and women use dating apps
to meet potential partners. The most significant results were found among the statements dating
apps allow people to meet others most quickly and easily than ever before and I would date
someone I met through a dating app.

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With regard to gender impacting views of dating apps and online dating, female
participants disagreed the most frequently with the statement and I would date someone I met
through a dating app, with 41 percent disagreeing and 14 percent strongly disagreeing.
However, a total of 34 percent male participants agreed with the statement and 17 percent
strongly agreed (see table 2, section 1). A total of 23 percent of female participants stayed
neutral, while 37 percent of male participants stayed neutral.
Additionally, male participants agreed the most with the statement dating apps allow
people to meet others most quickly and easily than ever before, with 50 percent agreeing and 13
percent strongly agreeing. Similarly, a total of 46 percent of female participants agreed with the
statement and 17 percent strongly agreed. A total of 22 percent of female participants stayed
neutral and a total of 23 percent of male participants stayed neutral (see table 1, section 2).
Table 2
Cross tabulation of gender with opinion statements
Gender
n/a(%)
Female (%) (n=93)
(n=1)
I would date someone I met through a dating app
Strongly
100
14
disagree
Disagree
0
40.9
Neutral
0
22.6
Agree

Strongly
0
agree
Note: n=124, significant at the p<.05

14
8.6

Male (%) (n=30)

10
3.3
36.7
33.3
16.7

Dating apps allow people to meet others more quickly and easily than
ever before
Strongly
100
1.1
disagree
Disagree
0
14.1

3.3

Neutral

23.3

21.7

10

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Agree

Strongly
0
agree
Note: n=124, significant at the p<.05

45.7

50

17.4

13.3

Other significant results were found between gender and the phrase it is pathetic when
people use dating apps. More than half of male and female participants either disagreed or
stayed neutral when responding to this statement, with female participants being more likely to
disagree. These results were had a high significance, with n=124, p=<.05. A total of 25 percent
of female participants strongly disagreed with the statement, as well as 22 percent disagreeing
and 37 percent staying neutral. A total of 24 percent of male participants strongly disagreed, with
34 percent disagreeing and 23 percent staying neutral.
Additionally, significant results were found between gender and the statement people
who use dating apps are judgmental, as both male and female participants either disagreed or
stayed neutral to this statement. However, female participants were more likely to disagree or
strongly disagree with this statement. A total of 23 percent of female participants strongly
disagreed, 36 percent disagreed and 29 percent stayed neutral. Similarly, 13 percent of males
strongly disagreed, 27 percent disagreed and 37 percent stayed neutral. These results were
significant, as n=124, p=<.05.
Lastly, significant results were also found between gender and the statement dating apps
are fun to use. Female participants were likely to agree with this statement, as 28 percent
agreed. A total of 32 percent of female participant stayed neutral with this statement. However,
male participants were more likely to agree with this statement, with a total of 44 percent of male
participants agreeing and 40 percent staying neutral. These results were also found to be
significant, as n=124, p=<.05.

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Opinion of use of dating apps:
The last two research questions examine whether a significant amount of people consider
online dating and dating apps as an acceptable way to meet people, as well as whether
participation in online dating or dating apps play a large role in peoples views on using online
dating or dating apps. The most significant results were found among people who have and have
not used dating apps and their responses to the statement dating apps are fun to use. For
participants who answered they have never used dating apps before, 40 percent stayed neutral
while 27 percent disagreed and 13 percent strongly disagreed. However, for participants who
answered they have used dating apps before, 62 percent agreed with the statement and 14 percent
strongly agreed, while 19 percent stayed neutral (see table 3, section 1).
Furthermore, for participants who have never used dating apps before, 25 percent of
respondents stayed neutral, 38 percent disagreed and 17 percent strongly disagreed with the
statement I would date someone I met through a dating app. In contrast, for participants who
have used dating apps before, 26 percent agreed with the statement, 29 percent stayed neutral
and 16 percent disagreed with the statement. These results were somewhat significant, as n=124,
p=.065.
Table 3
Cross tabulation of use of dating apps and online dating with opinion statements
Use
n/a(%) (n=1)
Never seriously
No (%) (n=83)
Yes (%) (n=37)
(%) (n=1)
Dating apps are fun
to use
Strongly
0
0
13.3
0
disagree
Disagree
0
0
26.5
5.4
Neutral
0
100
39.8
18.9
Agree

100

16.9

62.2

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Strongly
0
agree
Note: n=122, significant at the p<.05

3.6

13.5

16.7

7.9

38.1
25

15.8
28.9

100

14.3

26.3

21.1

I would date someone I met through a dating app

Strongly
0
0
disagree
Disagree
100
0
Neutral
0
0
Agree

Strongly
0
agree
Note: n=122, significant at the p=.065

Additionally, the next significant results were found between people do and do not know
someone else who has used dating apps and the statement people who use dating apps are
judgmental. For participants who do not know anyone who has ever used a dating app before,
36 percent of participants strongly disagreed with the statement and 21 percent disagreed with
the statement, with 21 percent staying neutral. In contrast, for participants who do know
someone, 34 percent of participants stayed neutral and only 14 percent of participants strongly
disagreed with the statement. These results were significant, as n=122, p=<.05.
Moreover, somewhat significant results were found between participants knowing
someone who has used a dating app and the statement dating apps are just a passing craze and
will not last long, as n=122, p=..078. For participants who did not know anyone who had used a
dating app before, 42 percent strongly disagreed, 27 percent disagreed and 21 percent stayed
neutral with the statement. In contrast, for participants who did know someone who had used
dating apps before, 32 percent disagreed, 35 percent stayed neutral and 13 percent agreed.
However, none of the participants selected strongly agree with the statement.
Lastly, significant results were also found between knowing others who have used dating
apps and the statements dating apps are fun to use and dating apps are a great way for college

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aged students to meet people. For the first statement, out of the participants who did not know
anyone else who had used dating apps before, 31 percent disagreed and 34 percent stayed
neutral. In contrast, out of the participants who did know someone who had used a dating app
before, 33 percent stayed neutral and 36 percent agreed with the statement. These results were
significant, as n=122, p=<.05. For the second statement, out of the participants who did not know
someone who had used a dating app before, 41 percent disagreed and 44 percent stayed neutral
with the statement. For participants who did know someone, 43 percent stayed neutral and 18
percent agreed with the statement (see table 4).
Table 4
Cross tabulation of use of dating apps and online dating with opinion statements
Know someone who
No(%) (n=32)
Yes (%) (n=91)
has used dating apps
before
Dating apps are a great way for college aged students to meet people
Strongly disagree

13.2

Disagree

40.6

18.7

Neutral

43.8

42.9

Agree

12.5

17.6

Strongly agree

3.1

7.7

Note: n=122, significant at the p<.05

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Discussion
Overall key findings
The results of this study appear to support previous research on the topic of dating apps
and online dating usage increasing over time. As the results stated, 97 percent of participants
think that people use dating apps and online dating more today than in 2001. This supports
previous research that found a large increase in usage of dating apps, such as Tinder, which
grows by an estimated 15 percent each week (Premuzic, 2014). Not only are people increasing
their use of dating apps and online dating, but results also demonstrated that the negative stigma
associated with dating apps and online dating is also beginning to disappear. For example, More
than half of the respondents either disagreed or strongly disagreed with the statement people
who use dating apps are desperate. This supports the Pew Research Center study, in which 59
percent of Americans in 2013 stated that online dating is a good way to meet people, as opposed
to only 44 percent of Americans in 2005 (Smith, 2014).
Additionally, results also supported that dating apps, such as Tinder and Grindr, are also
becoming a more common way for people to meet potential partners, as 73 percent of
participants stated that they know someone who has used a dating app, with 39 percent of those
people ending up in a relationship for longer than three months with someone they had met
through a dating app. However, only 30 percent answered that they had ever used a dating app.
This suggests that while people may be more acceptable today of others using dating apps and
online dating, they still may be hesitant to admit that they use it themselves. A similar reasoning
to this may also be that people have a false sense of how many people are actually using dating
apps and online dating to meet others, believing that more people are using it as a form of
interaction than they truly are. Overall, these results suggest that people believe others are using

Sigler 17
dating apps and online dating than ever before. However, the results were unable to identify any
reasoning as to why this increase in usage is taking place.
Age results summary
In regard to age affecting participants usage and perceptions of dating apps, the results
showed that participants between the ages of 21 and 22 were mostly likely to defend the use of
dating apps and online dating, as they were the most likely to disagree with the statement it is
pathetic when people use dating apps. However, because they were also likely to disagree with
the statement I would date someone I met through a dating app, this may imply that people
who use dating apps are doing so casually and are not interested in long-term commitment with
potential partners. Additionally, participants ages 18 to 20 were also likely to disagree with the
statement, supporting the idea that younger adults using dating apps are using it because they
perceive it to be more fun and causal, as opposed to using it as a way to find a partner.
Furthermore, age did not appear to a major factor when looking at participants
perceptions and beliefs about dating apps overall. While there were differences in certain areas,
such as the ones listed above, there did not appear to be any significant differences among
participants in regards to age. This could suggest that dating apps are perceived as a more causal
way to meet and date others across generations, as opposed to only college-aged students. Thus,
in regard to my first research question of how acceptable are people in different age ranges of
using online dating and dating apps to meet people, it appears that there is not a large difference
among different age groups.
Gender results summary
In regard to gender differences, results showed that female participants disagreed most
frequently with the statement I would date someone I met through a dating app, with 41

Sigler 18
percent disagreeing and 14 percent strongly disagreeing. However, a total of 34 percent male
participants agreed with the statement and 17 percent strongly agreed. This suggests that women
are less likely to date potential partners on dating apps, and may be more interested in using
dating apps for a more casual and fun experience. This also suggests that men and women may
be using dating apps with different intentions, leading to potential issues for users.
Additionally, both male and female participants agreed the most with the statement
dating apps allow people to meet others most quickly and easily than ever before, with 50
percent of males agreeing and 46 percent of female participants agreeing with the statement. This
may suggest that men and women both find dating apps to be useful, even though they may be
interested in different outcomes (such as women looking for more causal meetings, while men
are looking for relationships). In regard to the research question How frequently do men and
women use dating apps to meet potential partners, it appears as though the same amount of men
and women use dating apps. However, future research studies could look into differences in
expectations among different genders.
Opinion results summary
The results of this study showed that there were differences among people who have and
have not used dating apps and their responses to certain statements. For participants who
answered they have never used dating apps before, 40 percent stayed neutral to the statement
dating apps are fun to use, while 27 percent disagreed and 13 percent strongly disagreed.
However, for participants who answered they have used dating apps before, 62 percent agreed
with the statement and 14 percent strongly agreed, while 19 percent stayed neutral. This suggests
that using dating apps could make people enjoy using dating apps more than those who have not.
Additionally, further research could look into whether using dating apps makes people less

Sigler 19
judgmental of others who do, as well as reduces negative stigmas surrounding dating apps.
Lastly, in regard to my third and fourth research questions do a significant amount of people
consider online dating and dating apps as an acceptable way to meet people and does
participation in online dating or dating apps play a large role in peoples views on using online
dating or dating apps, it appears as though usage does have an affect on people viewing dating
apps as a more acceptable form of meeting potential partners.
Limitations
Limitations of this study included the diversity of the sample, as this study was conducted
through a convenience and snowball sampling method. Because of this method, a majority of the
respondents were students ages 21-22, which may have impacted the results of this study.
Additionally, my experience working with SPSS and conducting research studies also was a
limitation for this study. Several of the survey questions could be reworded to receive better
results, such as rewording the sentence how did you meet your significant other to did you
meet your significant other through a dating app or online website?
Future research
Future research studies on this topic could analyze this topic in many various ways;
however, I would suggest that they look at participants in a controlled experiment setting in
which they can watch participants use dating apps to gauge their responses. It would be
beneficial to this research topic to also see how people respond to using dating apps, such as
whether they get happier after using dating apps. Additionally, future researchers should aim to
make their results generalizable by conducting a probability sampling, as opposed to a
nonprobability convenience study.

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Conclusion
While there have been several studies conducted on people becoming more accepting of
online dating and dating apps as a way to meet potential partners, there is still much left to be
uncovered as to why this change is taking place. The results of this study found that there were
no large differences in use of dating apps between gender and age groups; however, using dating
apps and online dating appears to make others more willing to date others they have met through
devices. This may suggest that participation and usage encourages people to become more
accepting of something that once had a negative stigma, such as dating apps and online dating.
This study also directs future researchers to look at the many different intentions people may
have when using dating apps or online dating. For example, do people view dating apps as a
more causal way for meeting others, while online dating is a way for people to meet long-term
partners? Given the amount of previous research done on the increase of societies acceptance of
using dating apps and online dating, it would be beneficial for researchers looking at this topic to
look into the reasoning behind why this increase is taking place.

Sigler 21
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Couch, D., Liamputtong, P., & Pitts, M. (2012). What are the real and perceived risks and
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