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Paper Short Abstract:

In Denmark, online dating has doubled in the past decade, reaching nearly 500,000 users in a population of 6 million. Online dating-studies emphasize mistrust and disillusionment. While my initial data supports these insights, it also indicates newfound optimism and endurance in the pursuit of love.

Paper Abstract:

In Denmark, online dating has doubled the past decade, reaching nearly 500,000 users in a population of 6 million and is now the second most used way to find a long-term partner. Thus, making it a central aspect of Danes' romantic lives.

Studies of online dating stress that users frequently reflect on partner preferences and scrutinize physical imperfections, contributing to a "rejection mindset" where users casually delete and 'ghost' each other (Konings et al., 2023; Pronk & Denissen, 2020). Many studies draw inspiration from Zygmunt Bauman's critical theory on liquid love, emphasizing the consequences of marketization, normalization of untrustworthiness, and disillusionment in dating life (Bandinelli & Gandini, 2022; Bauman, 2003; Davidson et al., 2020; Hobbs et al., 2017; Illouz, 2012, 2019; Portolan & McAlister, 2021). While these critical approaches are valuable for examining structural factors, my project contributes with a phenomenological analysis of how online dating experiences affect aspirations and dreams about love, based on results from the first six months of a one-year fieldwork.

My initial data supports the insights on disillusionment, but it also indicates a newfound optimism and an enduring determination to withstand the challenges of contemporary dating culture in the pursuit of love. This may be attributed to the growing popularity of the new dating app Hinge, which emphasizes long-term relationships while distancing from casual hook-ups. Therefore, my preliminary findings add nuance to the prevailing critical theories on dating culture.