The phenomenon of social media platforms and, more particularly, social apps is an integral part of modern culture. Accordingly, it is apparent that the sphere of romantic relationships, dating, and sex is the focus of social apps developers. Therefore, this essay aims to overview the phenomenon of romance in the context of current digitals trends. The references to scholarly literature will be provided to give the paper more depth.
The massive use of social media platforms and apps creates immense amounts of data. As it is pointed out in the article by Albury et al., they did not receive sufficient attention from scholars and academic researchers (1). However, it is stated that these apps are “intense sites of data generation, algorithmic processing, and cross-platform data-sharing; bound up with competing cultures of production, exploitation, and use” (Albury et al. 1). Accordingly, it is possible to suggest that the primary scope of the article represents an interesting combination of two important topics on the verge of society and technology. The authors indicate that the input from users of dating apps is immense since they individually and collectively bring their perceptions of romance and sexuality, and thus an immensely diverse and representative sample of socio-cultural information is formed (Albury et al. 2).
Another perspective is proposed in the article by Miles, where the author dwells upon the idea that “digital technology and code mediate bodies in space” (Miles 1595). Accordingly, the idea of hybridization of everyday life in digital apps is the primary point of the article. On the basis of the queer male population and dating apps, which are used by this community, the author explores various aspects of correlation between real-life expectancies and perceptions that are induced by the digital sphere (Miles 1605). Miles concludes that the excessive amount of online information, especially on locative dating apps, overwhelms people, and thus they are considerably less certain about their behavior in real life (1608).
In conclusion, it is essential to state that dating apps are an integral part of contemporary society at the moment, and this situation is not likely to change shortly. Big amounts of data tend to create an illusion of a more interesting and diverse life online rather than in real life. Nevertheless, one should be able to balance out his involvement in the use of social apps.
Works Cited
Albury, Kath, et al. “Data Cultures of Mobile Dating and Hook-up Apps: Emerging Issues for Critical Social Science Research.” Big Data & Society, vol. 4, no. 2, 2017, pp. 1-11.
Miles, Sam. “Sex in the Digital City: Location-based Dating Apps and Queer Urban Life.” Gender, Place & Culture, vol. 24, no. 11, 2017, pp. 1595-1610.