The latest article published from our project is ‘Gender, sexuality and viral safety: A mixed-methods examination of the negotiation of risk and precautions through dating apps during a pandemic’ by Jaime García-Iglesias, Brian Heaphy, Neta Yodovich, and Qian Xiong.
Published in Social Science and Medicine, the article explores how dating apps mediated intimacy and risk during the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK, drawing on both quantitative and qualitative data from heterosexual and LGBQ+ users. It investigates how people navigated the tension between maintaining viral safety and sustaining social and intimate connections.
Key findings:
- Dating apps reshaped intimacy and risk during COVID-19.
- Frequent app use was linked to breaches of social distancing guidelines.
- Users balanced viral risk with the desire for connection.
- Apps actively promoted safety while pursuing commercial goals.
- Trust and implicit negotiations were central to app-mediated interactions.
The paper positions dating apps as active players within broader sociocultural and public health contexts, highlighting their potential role in future health promotion strategies. It also underscores the importance of trust and the complex interplay of gender and sexuality in shaping risk negotiation.