Managing uncertainty in mobile dating applications

Goals, concerns of use, and information seeking in Grindr

Bibliographic Data

ID13012003
AuthorsElena Francesca Corriero (Wayne State University), Stephanie Tom Tong (0000-0002-1612-4425, Wayne State University, corresponding author)
Year2015
Volume4
Issue1
Pages121-141
Publication date2015-11-22
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueMobile Media & Communication (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2050-1579 • E-ISSN: 2050-1587
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/2050157915614872
OpenAlexW2209644776
LanguageEN
Citations received40
References cited32

The current research used uncertainty management theory (UMT) as a framework to examine individuals’ experience of uncertainty within the context of Grindr, an all-male, location-based mobile dating application. In two studies, we first investigated the particular concerns associated with Grindr use. Results indicated that the unique affordances of Grindr generated six categories of user concerns associated with use of the mobile application. The second study confirmed that a specific set of user goals and concerns predicted daters’ desire for uncertainty, which in turn predicted information-seeking behavior. Findings clearly indicate that Grindr users’ responses to uncertainty were not limited to simple reduction strategies, but were dependent upon their desire for and tolerance of uncertainty in relation to their goals and concerns of application use. The current results also help to establish UMT’s predictive power and explanatory utility within the realm of interpersonal communication

Affordance · Biology · Cognitive psychology · Context (archaeology · Interpersonal communication · Political science · Predictive power · Realm · Set (abstract data type · Attachment and Relationship Dynamics · Computer Science · Digital Marketing and Social Media · Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior · Psychology · Social Psychology

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