Time is love: stages in dating on Tinder among digital natives

Résumé 0

As part of a qualitative study using semi-directive clinical research interviews with young people from the digital natives generation who were current or former users of the Tinder dating app, this article presents the main stages in the online dating process by focusing on the psychological temporality of young adults. It aims to grasp the meaning of the different stages identified in young adults’ online amorous and/or sexual encounters. The results highlight paradigmatic stages in the use of Tinder that are marked by a logic of temporal acceleration and psychological aftermath. Giving time to the other person, in the context of a meeting, becomes a real indicator of the subject’s affective commitment to the relationship. Applications such as Tinder make it easier to get into and out of a relationship (ghosting), making it possible to assess the “feel” of the encounter and control the various stages according to a (pre-) determined script.