Date of Conferral

2022

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Greg Murphy

Abstract

This study is a qualitative, phenomenological analysis of male Tinder users’ experiences with women over-filtering their visual self-presentation on Tinder using augmented reality (AR) smartphone technology. Tinder users frequently discuss how their dates do not live up to their profile photographs once they meet face-to-face due to the proliferation of filtered photos on dating apps and social media to make themselves appear more attractive. Augmented reality, Tinder, social media, and smartphone filtering are all ingrained in pop culture, yet have not been previously studied. Eight male Tinder users were recruited and interviewed. Coding and thematic analysis were used in this descriptive phenomenological study to analyze and interpret the data. The richness of these experiences provided six themes: filtering out the filters, filtering is expected, online competition and social pressure, multiple types of deception in online photos, negative affect of first impressions, and chemistry and attraction are important. The findings of this research illustrate the challenges visual self-presentation, authenticity, interpersonal chemistry, online competition and social pressure, technologies creating deception and negative affect, and the commonality of filtering technologies being used to alter online photos pose on face-to-face dating impressions. The implications for positive social change include the potential to help current and future Tinder users recognize and manage their visual self-presentations as reflections of their actual self and face-to-face encounters to avoid deceptive behaviors and self-sabotage to gain positive dating experiences and relationship building.

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