Sharing and Privacy in Dating Apps

Abstract

Online dating is an increasingly accepted alternative for internet users who want to start a romantic or intimate relationship. Designers usually search for ways to improve user experience by perfecting connections. Still, sharing and privacy issues arise from day-to-day practice. This paper explores scientific research in order to provide app designers with key actionable strategies for user experience improvement. We complement the literature review with observation in two popular dating apps: Tinder and OkCupid. We identify the main sharing features that aid in the formation of social presence, trustworthiness and intimacy, and we also discuss major privacy concerns, synthesizing them into a choice framework for designers.