Against Marrying a Stranger Marital Matchmaking Technologies in Saudi Arabia

Websites and applications that match and connect individuals for romantic purposes are commonly used in the Western world. However, there have not been many previous investigations focusing on cultural factors that affect the adoption of similar technologies in religiously conservative non-Western cultures. In this study, we examine the socio-technical and cultural factors that influence the perceptions and use of matchmaking technologies in Saudi Arabia. We report the methods and findings of interviews with 18 Saudi nationals (nine males and nine females) with diverse demographics and backgrounds. We provide qualitatively generated insights into the major themes reported by our participants related to the common approaches to matchmaking, the current role of technology, and concerns regarding matchmaking technologies in this cultural con-text. We relate these themes to specific implications for designing marital matchmaking technologies in Saudi Arabia and we outline opportunities for future investigations.Comment: 11 pages, 1 table, DIS 201

Predicting someone\u27s true identity: Linguistic norms and cues in online personal advertisements

Internet dating is now ranked third as the way people meet, behind meeting at work or school, and through a friend or family member. This study researches the use of social and linguistic norms in online dating advertisements. Previous research has posed that social groups create unique identities and group members will selectively present themselves in ways consistent with these identities. Using Craigslist to assess the similarities and differences between genders and sexualities in online personal postings, an online quiz-like survey was created. This research reports on people\u27s abilities to predict the sexual orientation and gender of the writer based on linguistic cues

A Dating App Autoethnography: Presenting Myself as a Researcher and User

Matchmaking mobile applications, or dating apps, have become hugely popular in recent years, with millions worldwide swiping through potential romantic partners. The literature on technologically mediated dating has explored how people manage impressions but has rarely taken an autoethnographic perspective: How does the author, both a researcher of dating apps and a user herself, experience self-presentation? In this paper, I first introduce a theoretical focus on impression management on dating apps. Next, I explain the choice of autoethnography as a method. Drawing from various source materials like personal journaling and chats with matches, I present two autoethnographic pieces: one focusing on my self-presentation as a dating app researcher, and the other on my own dating app use. I follow these by analyzing my motivations and impression construction in the dating app environment, keeping in mind theoretical insights. I conclude with a discussion into the challenges of an autoethnographic approach to impression management

Mediated Mate Selection And Courtship: The Lived Experience Of Muslim American Women In Using Online Matchmaking Websites

This thesis examines how technology affects two major components of courtship among Muslim American women: (1) mate selection and (2) cross-gender interactions between Muslim men and women. Sixteen individuals who self-identify as Muslim American women who are active users of online matchmaking websites participated in interviews conducted through Skype about their online dating experience. Qualitative data analysis suggests that these women balance the perceived advantages of online dating (e.g., increased individual agency in initiating romantic relationships) with their desire to maintain traditional cultural and religious courtship practices. This study contributes towards a deeper understanding of CMC and online dating among Muslim American women, and gives insights into the nature of technological change and adaptation in society more generally

Dating apps : love and relationships in contemporary Japan

After living in Japan for a semester, I noticed certain tendencies considering interpersonal relationships patterns, specifically about Dating Apps. Which lead me to research about their usage. The main question of this thesis is not in the centre stage in the Asian Studies field of research. It is an issue discussed by the media, especially the online based media. Although most of it is looked on with western or westernized eyes, there are many Japan-based websites and even YouTube channels discussing it. There is a concern relating to the lack of natality and the so called sexless culture. Japan was a country where polygamy was natural, however, in order to appeal to the West, it suppressed this culture, becoming more monogamous. Although, religion and the emperor no longer rule the sexual lives of the people, private companies as well as the Japanese government sponsor a lot of matchmaking events, in an attempt to raise the number of marriages, and consequently the natality rate. For this purpose, the Japanese government has invested many million yen in dating apps and dating app like services, such as start-up companies. There has been a rise in the deai culture, which brings people online to talk to each other in forums. The objective of these people is to find new friends or confidants, as well as dates. Deai does not detain the best reputation, which might lead to a stigma towards dating apps. Furthermore, smartphones are the leading platform in internet access in Japan, which creates auspicious conditions for the rise of said apps. Through a simultaneous analysis of the current dating situation in Japan and online dating culture, it is the goal of this work to understand dating app usage by younger layers of the population. For this objective, a case study was devised. It is comprised of an inquiry with 322 respondents. The questionnaire was circulated online as well as done in person, conducted mostly in university campuses. Dating apps are effective while online, but the end result is unpredictable due to its dependance on human and offline factors. The Japanese government’s funding would be better spent in an effort to better understand the human and cyberpsychological aspects of dating apps, rather than developing new one

From Online to Offline: Presentations of Self and Partner Searching Techniques among Women in Turkey on Dating Sites

Online dating platforms (apps or websites) have become instruments that are increasingly used by women in their practices of looking for a partner for romantic and/or sexual purposes. This paper focuses on discussing women’s self-presentation (also called impression management) methods and their strategies for evaluating themselves as presented both offline and online within the context of habitus. To this end, field data were collected with the netnographic method on the dating site called “OkCupid”. Afterwards, 11 university-educated white-collar women who were users of this platform in Turkey were enrolled in a semi-structured in-depth interview. While dating sites have offered women new opportunities in the intimacy market within modern society, relationships that start online and continue offline may not provide the anticipated satisfaction among daters due to several structural and technical reasons. The results of our analysis indicate that firstly, this online platform creates the insatiable idea in the minds of daters that they will find a better partner candidate at any moment. Furthermore, it decreases the possibility that daters that like each other will make long-term investments in each other. Secondly, after the rationally-built presentation of the self on the online stage, the mystery which brought about the emotional attraction has been significantly removed from the offline stage

Marriage in the Era of Globalization:- An Insight into the Role of Media in Popularizing Matrimonial Advertisements in Indian Society

As we all know that world is interconnected globally Internet provides ample opportunity to interact with each other With the growth of technology Internet had replaced newspaper to a large extent and also played a substantial role in growth of globalization since its easier faster and cheaper method of communication Although for older generations Newspapers still remain the favorite means of communication they prefer to give ads in newspapers itself but with changing technologies they too are required to shift to internet and gather information along with profile and pictures of their relatives Present study is about marriage in Indian society through matrimonial ads in newspaper and websites It has became a new and a popular medium for seeking marriage partners It is a new dimensions of media usage and choice of partners The study observed that media based changes in matchmaking is an overall social change in post liberalizing India with new lifesetyles and social realities notion of marriage love and gender need to be redefine

2019 Menino Survey of Mayors

The 2019 Menino Survey of Mayors represents the sixth nationally representative survey of American mayors and is based on interviews with 119 sitting mayors from 38 states. The 2019 Survey explores mayoral views on issues ranging from infrastructure and transportation priorities — including mobility and public safety — to the changing nature of work. The 2019 Survey also provides the first in-depth examination of mayors’ reactions to and expectations for the Opportunity Zones program, a significant new federal initiative to stimulate urban development. The 2019 Survey continues with the support of Citi Community Development and The Rockefeller Foundation.Citi Community Development and The Rockefeller Foundatio

Fans and Adaptation: An Analysis of the Use of Interactive Storytelling in The Lizzie Bennet Diaries

By using adaptations of Jane Austen’s classic novel Pride and Prejudice (1813) as a frame of reference, my thesis will demonstrate that transmedia narratives are most effective in tandem with original texts that have a history of successful adaptations due to the perpetual audience of fans and their previous knowledge of the story to meaningfully, as well as canonically, interact with the narrative. This thesis will first introduce theories surrounding adaptations and look at previous Pride and Prejudice adaptations in light of a devoted fan base. It will then introduce the concept of transmedia narratives and examine the culture of fans and their interactions with texts in the digital age. Lastly, I will analyze the success of the Internet production company Pemberley Digital and their transmedia YouTube adaptation of Pride and Prejudice that boasts a view count of 82.2 million views and secured an Emmy. This analysis will apply the theories on transmedia, fandom, and adaptation introduced in the first three sections to demonstrate that interactive transmedia narratives are most effective when they have an established fan base, which is most easily found in popular texts prone to adaptations. Digital storytelling will only continue to grow, especially as upcoming generations favor online streaming and independent producers as opposed to the cable television shows created by the larger media corporations. The research contained within this thesis will show the importance of appealing to wider audiences by creating richer, more immersive narratives through transmedia and paratexts that encourage collective authorship