View source for Freemium Dating Apps: Risks and Opportunities for Dating in the Digital Age – Bigstage 04 2022

22 June 2022 | Start 13:15 CEST | SISSA Main Auditorium<br />
[[BigStage_2022|'''BigStage 2022 overview''']]<br /><br />
== Session teaser ==
Everyone has heard about GAFAM, but online dating apps like Tinder, Badoo, Lovoo, etc. play often a much more important role in the everyday lives of individuals. Yet, this seemingly private topic is rarely discussed in political fora. We are here to change that by inviting youth representatives, free dating platform spokespeople and academics to our Big Stage session at this year’s EuroDIG*. Topics include security, privacy, algorithms, mental health. 

== Session description == 
The session has as of now centres around four key areas:

'''Security:''' Many users are concerned about their security when meeting people in real life and they would like platforms to provide them with more tools to ensure their safety. For example, passport verification and recommendations on how to stay safe would be welcome.

'''Privacy:''' Often, privacy policies on dating platforms are not very transparent. Providing more options on how to handle your own data would be great as well as knowing with whom it is shared. For instance, this could be part of a paid subscription model.   

'''Algorithms:''' Unfortunately, the way the dating platform algorithms work is not very transparent either. Tinder used the Elo rating system in the past but now uses a different one. Since online dating has real-life consequences, many users would like to know more about why they have suggested a specific pool of people.

'''Mental health:''' Some users are not very popular on these platforms. This can be a problem for the self-perception and the self-confidence of young people. It can also create unhealthy beauty standards. Average-looking users are lured into paid schemes to increase their popularity. 
The challenge is to find a good business model which minimizes bad impacts on individuals. The hope is to introduce consumer-friendly competition in the free online dating market. This would also pre-empt regulation from governments and give such companies a competitive advantage.

More topics are going to be introduced in the coming weeks. Mentimeter is going to be used during the session to encourage audience input.

== Format == 
Big Stage: A fireside chat with audience involvement via Mentimeter.

== Further reading == 

*Privacy: “Out of Control: How Consumers Are Exploited by the Online Advertising Industry,” https://fil.forbrukerradet.no/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/2020-01-14-out-of-control-final-version.pdf

*Security: "Set me up, knock me down: Legal Obligations of Dating Apps to address Sexual Violence" https://genderit.org/feminist-talk/set-me-knock-me-down-legal-obligations-dating-apps-address-sexual-violence

*Mental Health: "Swipe-based dating applications use and its association with mental health outcomes: a cross-sectional study" https://bmcpsychology.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40359-020-0373-1#author-information

*Algorithm: "Toi et moi, une distance calculée. Les pratiques de quantification algorithmiques sur Tinder" https://infoscience.epfl.ch/record/283981?ln=en

== People == 
'''Key participants:'''
*[https://dhcenter-unil-epfl.ch/en/biography/jessica-pidoux/ Jessica Pidoux] (Academia)
*[https://www.lovetastic.ch/ Nicolas Schotten] (Lovetastic, Founder)
*Further participants tbc

'''Moderator/Coordinator:'''
*[https://www.linkedin.com/in/fmonnet/ Fabio Monnet]

== Video record ==
Will be provided here after the event.


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