It's a Match: Investigating User Experience and Algorithmic Trust in Dating Platforms: Toward Inclusive and Transparent Design in Digital Dating Apps
Translated title
It's a Match: Investigating User Experience and Algorithmic Trust in Dating Platforms
Author
Kolacz, Maria Danuta
Term
4. term
Publication year
2025
Submitted on
2025-05-31
Pages
79
Abstract
This thesis examines how the design of dating apps—the screens, choices and technical features—shapes people’s trust, decisions and satisfaction. As artificial intelligence plays a larger role in matching, concerns about data privacy, transparency and inclusion are growing. The core question is how UX and design choices affect users’ trust and overall experience, and how design can support more ethical and inclusive interactions. The study used a mixed-methods approach: an online survey of 130 Millennial and Gen Z users and five semi-structured interviews. Interview data were explored with thematic analysis (identifying common patterns and themes), and the survey results were summarized with descriptive statistics (basic counts and distributions). Findings reveal a clear gap between what users expect and what they experience. Participants were frustrated by opaque matching—limited insight into how the algorithm pairs people—by little control over matching criteria, and by restricted options for representing identity. They asked for clearer explanations of platform intentions, improved onboarding for new users (a guided introduction), and more inclusive, flexible profile customization. Based on these insights, the thesis proposes practical design changes to build trust, transparency and respectful interactions, including a short onboarding quiz and educational content in the app. While the sample size and regional focus limit the study, the work offers useful guidance for dating apps that better align with user needs and ethical design standards. Future research could examine matching algorithms in more detail or run usability tests to evaluate the proposed design ideas.
Afhandlingen undersøger, hvordan designet af datingapps—skærme, valg og tekniske funktioner—former brugernes tillid, beslutninger og tilfredshed. I takt med at kunstig intelligens får større indflydelse på matching, vokser bekymringer om databeskyttelse, gennemsigtighed og inklusion. Det centrale spørgsmål er, hvordan UX og designvalg påvirker brugernes tillid og samlede oplevelse, og hvordan design kan understøtte mere etiske og inkluderende interaktioner. Studiet anvendte en kombineret metode: et online spørgeskema med 130 Millennials og Gen Z samt fem semistrukturerede interviews. Interviewdata blev analyseret med tematisk analyse (at finde gennemgående mønstre og temaer), og spørgeskemaet blev opsummeret med deskriptiv statistik (grundlæggende tal og fordelinger). Resultaterne peger på et tydeligt gab mellem brugernes forventninger og deres oplevelser. Deltagerne var frustrerede over uklar matching—begrænset indsigt i, hvordan algoritmen sætter folk sammen—begrænset mulighed for at styre matchkriterier samt snævre rammer for at repræsentere identitet. De efterspurgte tydeligere forklaringer af platformens intentioner, bedre onboarding for nye brugere (en guidet introduktion) og mere inkluderende, fleksibel profiltilpasning. På baggrund af disse indsigter foreslår afhandlingen praktiske designændringer, der kan styrke tillid, gennemsigtighed og respektfulde interaktioner, herunder et kort onboarding-quiz og læringsindhold i appen. Selvom stikprøvestørrelse og regionalt fokus begrænser undersøgelsen, giver arbejdet nyttig vejledning til datingapps, der i højere grad afspejler brugernes behov og etiske designstandarder. Fremtidige studier kan undersøge matchalgoritmer mere indgående eller gennemføre usability-tests for at afprøve de foreslåede designidéer.
[This apstract has been rewritten with the help of AI based on the project's original abstract]
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