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Published on: February 19, 2015
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Queer dating during social distancing using a text-based app.
Lisa Powell1, Virginia Powell2
1Marriage and Family Studies, Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX USA.
SN Social Sciences
|May 23, 2022
Summary
Queer individuals faced increased isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Queer dating apps provided vital connections and community for LGBTQ+ people when physical spaces were inaccessible.
Area of Science:
- Social Sciences
- Sociology
- Digital Humanities
Background:
- Queer individuals experience profound isolation, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Physical community spaces for queer people became inaccessible due to social distancing measures.
- Queer-focused dating applications emerged as crucial platforms for connection and visibility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze how queer individuals, particularly those not cisgender men, navigated isolation during the pandemic.
- To understand the role of queer dating apps in fostering connection and reducing isolation.
- To examine user-generated content on a popular queer dating app referencing the COVID-19 pandemic.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 1500 personal ads from the queer dating app Lex during summer 2020.
- Inclusion of ads that directly or indirectly mentioned the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Qualitative analysis of text-based personal ads from users in the United States.
Main Results:
- Personal ads revealed diverse experiences of isolation among queer individuals, especially non-cisgender men.
- Users leveraged the app to seek connection and combat loneliness during the pandemic.
- The study identified specific language and themes related to pandemic-induced isolation and app-based coping strategies.
Conclusions:
- Queer dating apps served as essential digital spaces for community building and social interaction.
- The pandemic highlighted the importance of online platforms for queer individuals' well-being and social support.
- App-based communication offers a unique lens into the lived experiences of queer populations during public health crises.
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