The Effects of Online Dating on College Students
Dating apps have opened endless romantic possibilities, and university campuses are epicentres for their use.
This group qualitative project investigates how online dating platforms are reshaping romantic norms, emotional expectations, and social interactions among university students. Focusing on Concordia students aged 18–25, it treats campus dating culture as a lens through which broader transformations in social and relational norms can be understood
My role:
Co-developed the research question and conceptual framework
Contributed to literature review on digital intimacy and dating culture
Designed survey and interview instruments
Conducted qualitative analysis of student interviews
Synthesized findings through sociological theory
Findings
Rather than measuring “success” on dating apps, this project centres on how apps reorganize emotional norms including attitudes toward commitment, honesty, safety, and disposability. It frames them as social infrastructures, not neutral tools, that are shaping contemporary dating dynamics.
Dating apps expand perceived choice while often intensifying emotional fatigue and uncertainty
Students report a normalization of casual, non-committal interactions
Practices like ghosting and misrepresentation are widely expected
Safety concerns and trust issues are deeply embedded in app-based dating
Most participants expressed a desire for meaningful, in-person connection, despite relying on dating apps for their convenience and accessibility
As someone embedded in university life, I noticed subtle but profound changes in campus dating culture. This project emerged from that observation, combining personal curiosity with sociological analysis to better understand how intimacy is evolving. It highlighted how digital abundance can paradoxically coexist with loneliness, insecurity, and relational instability.