Differences between genders on Dating Apps
Self-presentation is a way in which humans try to control how they are perceived by others. People strive to to create specific impressions of themselves to certain people or certain groups of people, at times appearing to have different aspects of their personality depending on who they are presenting themselves too (Guadagno et. al 2011 p.642). The internet’s ability to create psychical separation between those who communicate online and the relative anonymity of it allows people to more easily be deceptive in how they choose to present themselves online. Self-presentation and its deceptive nature has played a major role in recent years with the development of online dating and dating apps. Research has found an overall greater likelihood for men to participate in this deceptive self-presentation in online dating and dating apps than women (Guadagno et. al 2011 p. 642).
Research found that there are clear differences among the genders in the types of lies told in online dating and dating apps. Women engaged in more other-serving lies meaning they lied to protect someone else’s feelings, whereas men engaged in more self-serving lies, lies that made themselves look good (Guadagno et. al 2011 p. 646). These findings support the traditional beliefs that women are more caring and concerned about pleasing others whereas men are more concerned about their own agendas.
The differences in men and women online come mostly from the different traits in which each gender chooses to enhance on their profiles. Men were more likely to deceive to appear more dominant, more resourceful, and more kind, whereas women used deception to match the sex roles of a potential mate (Guadagno et. al 2011 p. 643). Men were also more likely to emphasize their status and women were more likely to enhance their attractiveness. In online dating settings men are more likely to discuss their financial status and their success in a greater degree and a more positive light. Women often focus more on physical desirability and use filters and more flattering angles and lighting to present themselves as attractive. The differences in what aspects each gender increased about themselves is rooted in traditional gender roles. Men are traditionally thought of as the protector and women are to serve the man.
In terms of initial contact with potential mates men were more likely to contact women as opposed to women making the initial contact. This is also common in offline settings as well. Even in today’s society, it is more common and often thought of as more socially acceptable for men to approach women and initiate contact. Men with higher incomes listed, however, received more emails than those who earned less and women who were more physically attractive, indicating higher fertility, were more likely to be approached, in conjunction with the above belief that status is used more by men and attractiveness more by women to gain attention in online dating settings. In this way online dating and dating apps are not so different from traditional forms, it is merely an extension of dating into the 21st century.
Research by Sedgwick et. al, tested the theory that the angle of profile pictures on dating apps would differ between men and women. Many dating apps, especially Tinder and similar apps, almost solely, use photos to decide on potential mates. Photos have become a major part of dating in the 21st century because of the popularity of online dating and dating apps. Men more often than not choose photos where the camera is lower than they are so they would appear taller and more powerful and women would choose photos angling down making them appear shorter and less powerful (Sedgwick et. al 2017). Biologically, men are often taller than women leading to the belief that tallness predicts masculinity. Initial contact with potential mates almost always comes from judging someone’s picture.
Gender differences in presentation on online dating and dating app profiles are not as common in terms of participating in some form of manipulation to appear a certain way. Differences, however, come in what aspects are presented to appear a certain way. Men, playing off of traditional roles, chose to focus on status and masculinity making certain adjustments and conscious decisions to share certain information. Women using the same ideals present themselves as the more submissive gender, focused less on power and more on appearance.