Dating in the Digital Age : A Research Experiment
give dating advice , talk about the dos and don ’ ts of love and relationships , nor place judgment on an individual ’ s dating decisions . What I set out to do was a bit different than most Sex and the City type material , as this experiment was focused on the technological apparatus and its influence on the ways in which we communicate , specifically within the context of dating . With that , there are few disclaimers I would like to share :
1 . This was an artistic experiment coupled with academic curiosity , and it is not reflective of my personal life nor should it be interpreted as empirically driven scientific inquiry .
2 . The Tinder experiments discussed throughout were purposely absurd in order to test the limits and nuances of the app ; thus , I strongly advise against using any dating apps in the ways described herein .
3 . There are a lot of research materials and advice columns on the various facets of online dating�this article serves to add another dimension and voice to that ongoing discourse .
The initial idea behind this project was partly driven by a desire to better understand human communication and its complex relationship with technology . Having recently moved to New York to conduct some research and writing , I was artistically inspired by the city ’ s bedlam and the seemingly endless pop culture references to its preoccupation with sex , love , and dating .
The initial findings of this project were presented at the Far West Popular Culture Association conference , and this article serves to provide a more comprehensive explanation and contextual analysis of that preliminary presentation .
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