Sexting Victimization Among Dating App Users: A Comparison of U.S. and Chinese College Students

Childhood sexual abuse and technology-facilitated sexual violence on dating apps: The moderating role of motivations for use

BACKGROUND

The study aimed to investigate the potential link between a history of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and the experience of technology-facilitated sexual violence on dating apps (TFSV), considering distinct motivations for app usage among CSA survivors.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the association between CSA and TFSV on dating apps, while also examining the potential moderating role of motivations for app usage and differences based on sexual orientation.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING

The study utilized an online survey among 534 dating app users in Israel.

METHODS

Participants completed an online survey assessing history of CSA, experiences of TFSV on dating apps, and motivations for app usage.

RESULTS

The study found that individuals with a history of CSA experienced more TFSV on dating apps. Survivors of CSA showed lower motivation for love and higher motivation for self-worth validation, ease of communication, and thrill of excitement. Differences between heterosexual and LGBTQ+ participants were observed, with LGBTQ+ individuals reporting higher levels of CSA prevalence and TFSV on dating apps. Motivations for app usage and sexual orientation were found to moderate the association between CSA history and TFSV on dating apps. Among LGBTQ+ participants, those who experienced CSA had a higher likelihood of encountering TFSV on dating apps, regardless of their motivations. Heterosexual individuals with a history of CSA were more prone to TFSV on dating apps if they had a strong motivation for love.

CONCLUSIONS

This study shed light on unique vulnerabilities among individuals with a history of CSA, including increased susceptibility to TFSV on dating apps.

Factors associated with online dating among college students engaging in casual sexual behavior in China: cross-sectional study

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the factors associated with online dating among college students engaging in casual sexual behavior, by understanding these factors, targeted intervention measures can be formulated for relevant departments to help college students better manage their sexual health and offer useful reference for the development of sexual health education.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a stratified cluster sampling method. Demographic and behavioral information was gathered through questionnaires for univariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis.

Results

A total of 595 college students engaging in casual sexual behavior were included in the study, of whom 345 (57.98%) had found casual sexual partners through the internet. Multiple regression analysis indicated that male participants, those aged 20-21 years, those who had recently attended AIDS-themed lectures or health education classes at school, participants who were willing to engage in commercial sexual activities during online dating, participants who accepted sexual activities among men who have sex with men (MSM), those who reported having sexual intercourse with regular partners in the past year, participants who wanted to know if their online dating partners were HIV-diagnosed, those who had engaged in commercial sexual behavior in the past year and those who perceived themselves to be at risk of HIV infection were more likely to engage in online dating. Participants with general/disharmonious family relationships, those who consistently used condoms during casual sexual behavior and those who occasionally used condoms were less likely to engage in online dating.

Conclusion

There were a certain extent proportion of casual partners among college students were sourced from the internet, indicating the profound influence of online dating on casual sexual behavior. Therefore, future research and intervention measures should focus on sexual health education and promotion on online dating platforms, strengthen regulations and guidance on college students' online dating behavior, and raise awareness of HIV prevention in this group.

Swipe Left on Sexual Harassment: Understanding and Addressing Technology-Facilitated Sexual Violence on Dating Apps

Dating violence is a pervasive issue that has become increasingly complex to address as technologies mediating interpersonal connections become more widely utilized. The incidence and ways in which violence manifests through digital media are not fully understood. This study aimed to better understand the relationship between geolocational dating apps like Tinder, Bumble, and Grindr and technology-facilitated sexual violence (TFSV) among university students. An anonymous survey was electronically administered to a convenience sample of 1,000 undergraduates at a large private university in the southeastern United States. Participants indicated their dating app usage and the frequency of specific TFSV experiences they had encountered. Chi-square tests were conducted to identify relationships between demographic characteristics and experiences of TFSV. Multivariate logistic regression was conducted to predict TFSV based on respondent characteristics. A total of 910 respondents completed the survey, with more than half (54%) of respondents reporting some type of TFSV while using dating apps. Women and non-heterosexual students experience significantly more TFSV than male and heterosexual students. While participants' academic year (first-year through senior) and participation in extracurricular activities were not associated with TFSV, dating app selection was a significant predictor of the likelihood to report TFSV, with Grindr users being significantly more likely to report. Major Implications Due to the near-ubiquitous use of dating apps in this population, interventions to address campus social norms, comprehensive sexuality education, and consent education, and improved regulation of TFSV by technology companies should be implemented- especially for cisgender, heterosexual women, and gender and sexual minorities.

Dating Apps: A New Emerging Platform for Sexual Harassment? A Scoping Review

Currently, dating apps are one of the most popular platforms for meeting romantic and sexual partners. However, little is known about the potential for sexual harassment on these platforms. In the current scoping review, we sought to examine what is known about sexual harassment facilitated through smartphone dating apps. We searched for studies that reported on sexual harassment via dating apps through PubMed, Web of Science, PsycInfo, Communication Abstracts, Sociological Abstracts, and IEEE Xplore databases. Twelve studies addressed the risk of sexual harassment on dating apps. We found that sexual harassment when using dating apps is prevalent and ranges between 57 and 88.8%, with two populations being at higher risk: women and individuals who identify as a sexual minority. In terms of forms of harassment, sexual harassment via dating apps can take place online (e.g., being sent unsolicited images, or "dick pics") or offline (e.g., a face-to-face meeting that was arranged on a dating app). Experiencing sexual harassment on dating apps is associated with higher levels of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, loneliness, early childhood maltreatment, less perceived self-control, and lower self-esteem. Some studies suggest that experiencing sexual harassment on dating apps reflects social structures and appears differently in different groups (e.g., among sexual minorities). More research is needed to capture the prevalence of adult sexual harassment via the use of dating apps, the different forms of harassment, risk and protective factors, and social and cultural structures that facilitate this kind of sexual harassment.

Adolescent Use of Dating Applications and the Associations with Online Victimization and Psychological Distress

In this study, we examined the relationships between the use of online dating applications (apps), online victimization, and psychosocial distress among adolescents. This study was conducted in 2020. A sample of 2595 seventh-grade students from 30 Taiwanese middle schools was surveyed. We conducted a self-administered survey. Overall, 15% of the adolescents reported using online dating apps in the past year, while 78% reported having seen dating app advertisements on the internet in the past year. Multivariate analysis results indicated that adolescents' exposure to the marketing of dating apps and poor academic performance were both associated with the use of online dating apps. Adolescents who used dating apps were more likely to experience online privacy victimization, cyberbullying victimization, and online sexual harassment. The use of dating apps by adolescents, online privacy victimization, cyberbullying victimization, and online sexual harassment were associated with higher levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. In conclusion, adolescent use of dating apps is related to online victimization and psychological distress.