Autoethnography of Mobile Dating Apps' affordances

GENERAL INFORMATION------------------1. Dataset title: Autoethnography of Mobile Dating Apps' affordances (2021) 2. Authorship: Name: Campaioli, Giulia DESCRIPTION----------1. Dataset language:English 2. Abstract:The dataset contains auto ethnographic field notes and screenshots of a larger study on Mobile Dating Apps, which focused on personal experiences of romantic rejection, visibility affordances, and digital safety concerns. s. Our aim was to explore the use of awareness cues on MDAs, particularly in experiences of rejection, and whether awareness cues pose safety concerns for people of diverse genders and sexuality in relation to mobile dating. Between October and November 2021, the author conducted an auto-ethnographic exploration of 11 MDAs with the intention of 1) familiarizing with the digital environment of MDAs, 2) provide a channel for recruitment, 3) experience the use of awareness cues in the interaction with potential participants. Apps were chosen if they were indicated by participants on the recruitment questionnaire of the larger study on MDAs: Tinder, Bumble, Grindr, Feeld, happn, OKCupid, LOVOO, Once, Romeo, Twoo, Badoo; additionally, the principal researcher chose to include three apps that target queer women (Her, Zoe, Blendr) and queer people (Taimi), hoping to use these channels to recruit lesbian, bisexual, and queer women for the diary study. The apps were downloaded from the Apple App Store on the research smartphone. Three apps (Bumble, Grindr, Taimi) were discarded almost immediately due to technical problems with creating the profile, and two apps were excluded because no longer available (Blendr and Twoo). The final sample included 9 apps (Tinder, happn, OKCupid, LOVOO, Once, Romeo, Badoo, Her, Zoe). A profile was set up for each app using a research-specific email and/or phone number. To ensure the purpose of the profile was clear and protect the researcher’s privacy, either a recruitment flyer image was used, or an AI-generated photo of a woman around 30 years old, depending on what the app allowed (some apps required a face photo). The profile did not disclose to users that the image was AI-generated. In the profile, gender identity was set as woman/female, and sexual identity as bisexual (or ‘Looking for’ men and women). The profile’s name was listed as "dating" or "DatingResearch". The researcher used each app for about two weeks, collecting auto-ethnographic data in the form of field notes and images (screenshots). Only the free version of the apps was used. To better understand the environment of expected use (Light et al., 2016), the researcher also revised the app description on the app store and on companies’ websites to understand their vision, business model, and revenue sources. 3. Keywords:Mobile dating - dating apps - affordances - auto ethnography - feminist anthropology ACCESS INFORMATION------------------------3. Related publications: Campaioli G and di Cicco M. Ethnographic research on digital intimate platforms: a feminist look at ethical and methodological challenges [version 1; peer review: 1 approved, 1 approved with reservations]. Open Res Europe 2026, 6:59 (https://doi.org/10.12688/openreseurope.21567.1) Campaioli, G., Zamperini, A., & Cecchinato, M. (2025). ‘Now you’re home’: Awareness cues, rejection and post-digital safety on mobile dating apps. New Media & Society, 0(0), 1-21. https://doi.org/10.1177/14614448251336437 Campaioli, G. (2023). Hiding the gender binary behind the ‘other’: A cross-platform analysis of gender and sexuality self-categorization affordances on mobile dating apps. AboutGender, 12(23), 64-97. https://doi.org/10.15167/2279-5057/AG2023.12.23.2112 FILE OVERVIEWThe PDF reflects an English translation of the auto-ethnographic field notes collected by the author.