India Goes Digital: Seeking LOVE, SEX, AND DHOKA in Capitalist Technology

RESULTS:
Research question:
METHODOLOGY
A. Dating apps have increased in popularity because of
To discern the reciprocal their
economic and social Usage of mixed-methods
implications of the investigation through:
1. Geographical mobility
introduction and the Administration of a
subsequent surge in popularity questionnaire (81 2. Provision of anonymity which aids one in exploring their
of dating applications in India respondents)
sexuality in a sexually stigmatised culture such as India
Conducting in-depth
interviews
B. Dating has emerged as a market with people treating
each other as commodities

C. AI of dating applications disadvantage minority

communities on dating applications
Why did you join a D. Phenomena such as ‘situationships’ and ghosting
dating application?
45
characterise the contemporaneous dating culture

ALGORITHM OF
40

35

30

25
TINDER
20

15

10

To find romantic and/or sexual

To find romantic/ Expand
0 connections

sexual partners social circle

Networking Loneliness Boredom

Currently, do you think there exists an Do you think dating

increasing tendency to seek Friends with
Benefits arrangements over committed applications have influenced
relationships? the present dating culture in
No - 8 SCAN FOR A SURPRISE!!
(9.88%) India? No -- 3
(3.7%) CONCLUSION:

Yes - 73
The technological realm has monopolised the dating scene by ensuring that
people meet their libidinal needs only by employment of these applications.
Yes – 78 (96.3%) We must ruminate upon whether and how we would like technology to mediate
our relationships.

(90.12%) Ethical technology policy is the need of the hour in order to facilitate a
conscious and informed approach to digitised intimacy.

By: Yana Roy (Department of Sociology, Lady Shri Ram College for Women)

Note of Acknowledgement:
I am highly indebted to my family in the Department of Sociology at LSR as well as in Calcutta and South
Carolina, Gauri, and Mr. Abdul Muqtadir for their wonderful actions which helped in shaping this project!