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
Term
4. term
Publication year
2025
Submitted on
2025-06-01
Pages
79
Abstract
This thesis explores how user experience (UX) design and technical features influence user trust, decision-making, and satisfaction on dating applications. As online dating becomes increasingly mediated by artificial intelligence (AI), concerns about data privacy, transparency, and inclusivity have grown. The study addresses the research question: How do UX and design choices in dating apps affect users’ trust and overall experience, and how can design promote more ethical and inclusive interactions? A mixed methods approach was applied, combining a survey (n=130) targeting Millennial and Gen Z users with five semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis was used to analyse qualitative data, supplemented by descriptive statistics for quantitative insights. Findings highlight a gap between users’ expectations and the app experience, particularly around algorithmic opacity, limited control over matching logic, and identity representation. Participants expressed a desire for clearer communication of platform intentions, better onboarding, and more inclusive profile customisation. The thesis proposes design recommendations to enhance trust, transparency, and respectful interactions, including an onboarding quiz and educational content. Although the research was limited by sample size and regional bias, it offers valuable implications for designing dating apps that better align with user needs and ethical design standards. Future research could examine algorithmic logic or implement usability testing to validate proposed design interventions.
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