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Entre a emergência do interesse e as práticas de utilização do Tinder: experiências de utilizadores portugueses
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Abstract(s)
A emergência das tecnologias digitais e das aplicações de encontros transformou profundamente as dinâmicas sociais, afetivas e comunicacionais, o que suscitou novas questões sobre os processos de formação e desenvolvimento de vínculos interpessoais e as motivações subjacentes ao seu uso. O Tinder é uma aplicação de encontros, que permite conectar os seus utilizadores com base na sua localização e preferências. A necessidade de explorar discursos e trajetórias de utilizadores portugueses do Tinder, contextualizando a emergência, desenvolvimento e avaliação das suas práticas constitui-se o objetivo do presente estudo, dada a escassez de estudos no contexto português. Na presente investigação, qualitativa e fenomenológica, foram conduzidas entrevistas online, em profundidade e semiestruturadas, a seis participantes com idades compreendidas entre os 20 e os 25 anos. Foram analisadas as trajetórias de uso, os motivos que conduziram à instalação da aplicação, os padrões de autoapresentação, as estratégias de gestão de privacidade, bem como os significados atribuídos às interações estabelecidas. A análise temática dos resultados permitiu identificar três temas: 1. Entre a curiosidade e a instalação do Tinder; 2. Motivações para o uso do Tinder; e 3. Experiências de utilização: balanços e perspetivas críticas. No geral, os resultados sugerem a popularidade da aplicação e a influência do meio social como gatilhos para a criação de um perfil construído estrategicamente de modo a minimizar riscos e a potenciar a satisfação de motivações associadas à validação pessoal, à conquista e à procura intencional do prazer episódico ou duradouro. Destacam ainda uma avaliação positiva da utilização da aplicação, como a facilidade dos contactos e interações, assim como o reforço da imagem de si, que coexiste com aspetos menos positivos, como uma certa precariedade relacional fomentada e justificada pela imaterialidade da comunicação.
The emergence of digital technologies and dating apps has profoundly transformed social, emotional and communication dynamics, raising new questions about the processes of forming and developing interpersonal bonds and the motivations behind their use. Tinder is a dating app that allows users to connect based on their location and preferences. The need to explore the discourses and trajectories of Portuguese Tinder users, contextualising the emergence, development and evaluation of their practices is the aim of this study, given the scarcity of studies in the portuguese context. In this qualitative and phenomenological research, in-depth semi-structured online interviews were conducted with six participants aged between 20 and 25. The trajectories of use were analysed, as well as the reasons for installing the application, patterns of self-presentation, privacy management strategies and the meanings attributed to the interactions established. The thematic analysis of the results identified three themes: 1) Between curiosity and installing Tinder; 2) Motivations for using Tinder; and 3) User experiences: balances and critical perspectives. Overall, the results suggest the popularity of the app and the influence of the social environment as triggers for creating a strategically constructed profile in order to minimise risks and enhance the satisfaction of motivations associated with personal validation, conquest and the intentional search for episodic or lasting pleasure. They also highlight a positive evaluation of the use of the application, such as the ease of contact and interaction, as well as the reinforcement of their self-image, which coexists with less positive aspects, such as a certain relational precariousness fostered and justified by the immateriality of communication.
The emergence of digital technologies and dating apps has profoundly transformed social, emotional and communication dynamics, raising new questions about the processes of forming and developing interpersonal bonds and the motivations behind their use. Tinder is a dating app that allows users to connect based on their location and preferences. The need to explore the discourses and trajectories of Portuguese Tinder users, contextualising the emergence, development and evaluation of their practices is the aim of this study, given the scarcity of studies in the portuguese context. In this qualitative and phenomenological research, in-depth semi-structured online interviews were conducted with six participants aged between 20 and 25. The trajectories of use were analysed, as well as the reasons for installing the application, patterns of self-presentation, privacy management strategies and the meanings attributed to the interactions established. The thematic analysis of the results identified three themes: 1) Between curiosity and installing Tinder; 2) Motivations for using Tinder; and 3) User experiences: balances and critical perspectives. Overall, the results suggest the popularity of the app and the influence of the social environment as triggers for creating a strategically constructed profile in order to minimise risks and enhance the satisfaction of motivations associated with personal validation, conquest and the intentional search for episodic or lasting pleasure. They also highlight a positive evaluation of the use of the application, such as the ease of contact and interaction, as well as the reinforcement of their self-image, which coexists with less positive aspects, such as a certain relational precariousness fostered and justified by the immateriality of communication.
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Keywords
Tinder Utilizadores Aplicações de encontros Perfil Users Dating apps Profile