Abstract
As internet became the primary source for relationship formation, reports have emerged of negative experiences, poorer mental health and lower wellbeing. The design of online dating services influences user behaviours and can either support or inhibit relationship formation. To foster successful online relationship formation, understanding desired interaction qualities is crucial. This exploratory study presents a survey involving 100 participants from 23 nationalities across 5 continents. It identifies five key desired interaction qualities: excitement, comfort, safety, trust, and reciprocity. While trust emerged as the most vital for intimacy building yet often lacking in the online environment, excitement and playfulness were identified as even more important qualities to foster intimacy building. The paper contributes to the under-researched field of design for relation making and guides designers and dating app companies through presenting how desired interaction qualities can support creation of positive online interactions and streamline relationship formation.
Keywords
design for relation making; design for wellbeing; online communication; intimacy
DOI
https://doi.org/10.21606/drs.2024.380
Citation
Salaric, P., Cain, R., Zitkus, E., and Visch, V. (2024) Tinder, I Don’t Like This: Identifying Desired User Interaction Qualities to Support Intimacy Building in the Online Environment, in Gray, C., Hekkert, P., Forlano, L., Ciuccarelli, P. (eds.), DRS2024: Boston, 23–28 June, Boston, USA. https://doi.org/10.21606/drs.2024.380
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Conference Track
Research Paper
Included in
Tinder, I Don’t Like This: Identifying Desired User Interaction Qualities to Support Intimacy Building in the Online Environment
As internet became the primary source for relationship formation, reports have emerged of negative experiences, poorer mental health and lower wellbeing. The design of online dating services influences user behaviours and can either support or inhibit relationship formation. To foster successful online relationship formation, understanding desired interaction qualities is crucial. This exploratory study presents a survey involving 100 participants from 23 nationalities across 5 continents. It identifies five key desired interaction qualities: excitement, comfort, safety, trust, and reciprocity. While trust emerged as the most vital for intimacy building yet often lacking in the online environment, excitement and playfulness were identified as even more important qualities to foster intimacy building. The paper contributes to the under-researched field of design for relation making and guides designers and dating app companies through presenting how desired interaction qualities can support creation of positive online interactions and streamline relationship formation.