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Swipe Right: Harms Associated With Using and Meeting People via Dating Apps

Rebecca Bates ; Nadia Butler ; Zara Quigg (2022) — Partner Abuse

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DOI: 10.1891/pa-2021-0055 (opens in a new tab)

Country:   Global
Tags:   Catfishing, Dating Violence, Disclosure, Online Dating, Online Dating Platforms, Online Harassment, Safety Behaviors, Sexual Violence
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Synopsis

            
The study investigates harms linked to using dating apps and websites and to meeting people in person who were first encountered online. It collected responses from 217 adults in the UK or Republic of Ireland who had used a dating app or site in the past two years, via an online, anonymous survey. The researchers examined how people use dating apps, their motivations, experiences of harms while using them, and experiences of physical or sexual harm when meeting someone in person through these platforms. Across the sample, a substantial portion reported harms associated with in-person meetings from people met online. Nearly half (46.5%) reported at least one harm over a lifetime, with 33.2% experiencing sexual violence, 27.2% verbal abuse, 8.3% sexual activity in exchange for goods, and 6.5% physical assault. About 41.9% reported being catfished in the past two years. Multivariate analyses found higher odds of experiencing at least one harm among women, those aged 40 and older, and individuals who reported being catfished. Sexual violence showed particularly strong associations with female gender, older age, and catfishing, while verbal abuse also related to female gender and middle age. The authors note that safety practices were widely used before or during dates, yet such precautions did not clearly reduce the risk of dating violence in this sample. They acknowledge limitations including a small, non-representative convenience sample and reliance on self-report. The findings underscore the ongoing public health relevance of dating-app–related harms, highlight catfishing as a notable risk factor, and call for further research into protective measures and intervention strategies. The authors emphasize that more work is needed to understand and address these online-to-offline risks.

          

        
                  

            
Identified Gaps

            
The paper identifies sparse data on dating violence and crimes linked to online dating. It states that no prior research had examined associations between catfishing and dating violence, and that little research addresses harms from meeting a catfish in person. Evidence on the effectiveness and practicality of safety apps remains limited.

          

        
                  

            
Methods

            
An anonymous 22-question online convenience survey recruited adults aged 18+ in the UK or Republic of Ireland who had used dating apps or websites within two years. Of 266 completers, 217 met eligibility criteria. Measures covered DAW use, online harms, in-person dates, safety behaviors, lifetime DAW-related dating violence, and disclosure. Analyses used chi-square tests, Bonferroni-adjusted bivariate tests, and binary logistic regression.

          

        
                  

            
Limitations

            
The small, convenience sample limits representativeness and generalizability. The exploratory design and multiple analyses required Bonferroni correction. Most measures were unvalidated. Self-reported use, behaviors, and harms may be affected by reporting and recall bias; although a two-year recall window was used for DAW experiences, dating violence may be underreported. Lifetime harm estimates may also be influenced by older participants having had more time to experience harm.

          

        
                  

            
Future Work

            
Conduct larger studies with specific hypotheses to test the repeatability of these exploratory findings. Validate measurement tools for DAW use and dating harms. Examine differences by sexual orientation, ethnicity, and income. Investigate whether older users’ higher lifetime harm prevalence reflects longer exposure or greater vulnerability. Evaluate whether newer safety apps effectively prevent dating violence.

          

              

    
    

        
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