Online dating has become a widespread
feature of modern social life. In less than two decades, seeking
partners through commercial intermediaries went from being a marginal
and stigmatized practice to a common activity. This makes online dating
interesting to sociological inquiry in two ways. First, as a research
topic in its own right, online dating gives us a better understanding of
contemporary sexual norms and behaviors. Second, data from dating
platforms can be used to study partner preferences and matching
mechanisms, and so to test sociological theory on partner choice. The
presentation will focus on this second approach, showing how online
dating makes it possible to revisit classic sociological inquiry.
The
DH Research Seminar is a series of talks organised by the Digital
Humanities Institute of EPFL given by researchers from a wide range of
backgrounds and aiming at presenting the vast array of subjects covered
by Digital Humanities.
Digital Humanities Institute
26 March 2021, Kathleen Sarah Collins, 2 views
