‘When you delete Tinder it’s a sign of commitment’: leaving dating apps and the reproduction of romantic, monogamous relationship practices

Abstract

In recent years there has been increasing academic attention to forms and practices of disconnection to social networking sites. However, there has been limited attention to non-use/departures, particularly with dating apps. In this article I draw on 27 interviews with previous and current users of dating apps to explore their practices of leaving/deleting their dating apps. For the majority of participants, leaving a dating app was due to ‘success’ in finding a relationship. For others, it was the ‘failure’ to find a relationship. I suggest that this highlights not only the centrality of finding/not finding a relationship to dating app use and departure, but also a particular construction of relationships: romantic, sexually exclusive/monogamous and life-long. This was the case for the majority of participants who identified as heterosexual, gay, lesbian, bisexual and queer and indicates the reproduction and valuing of a particular relationship form and practice for diverse users.