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Sam Chan of the School of Journal-
ism and Communication at the Chi-
nese University of Hong Kong points
out that this cycle of hope and disap-
pointment is embedded in the design
and business model of the dating app
platforms.
“We really need to represent our-
selves nicely when we are on the
apps... pick the best pictures and come
up with the best opening lines. This
sets a gap between the curated online
persona and real-life interaction. The
discrepancy makes us feel bad about
ourselves. If we lack emotional con-
Follow Us on Instagram
nection from our everyday lives, we
feel lonely, and we look for something
online,” Chan says. Follow Us on Instagram
The academic specialising in re-
searching digital media highlights
that the core of the issue lies within A v ariet y o f dating apps exist, but their mark eting o ften capitalizes on user s ’ loneliness.
A variety of dating apps exist, but their marketing often capitalizes on users’ loneliness.
marketing promises that do not match
reality.
“Countless dating apps, hookup He suggests that platforms need to
apps, or marriage platforms’ market- avoid a one-size-fits-all approach.
ing slogans promise unlimited pos- “It’s like you’re walking into a buf-
sibilities, but it doesn’t mean that the fet and realize at one point that there
choices are within our leagues,” he are too many options and you ask
says. yourself ‘what do I actually want?’.
Because the utopia these apps create
with theoretically unlimited options
leads to discrepancy. They should
have more specific features for specific
audiences,” he says.

Edited by Yilie Lo
Y
ilie Lo
Edited by
Sub-edited by Alexia Leung
Sub-edited by Alexia Leung

“It’s a straightforward capitalization of lone-
liness. Their business models thrive because
of our loneliness and desire for connection,
as they want to attract as many users as
possible,”
Many users turn to apps for companionship,
Many user
ompanionship,
or c
s turn to apps f
yet o
ften find emotional gaps in real-lif
e
yet often find emotional gaps in real-life
actions.
inter
interactions.