On the differences between TinderTM versus online dating agencies: Questioning a myth. An exploratory study

Despite common stereotypes about those who use different types of online dating, psychological research on online dating agency users’ characteristics is actually very limited, and no scientific study has yet examined the individual characteristics of TinderTM users. The current exploratory study aimed to investigate why individuals use these services, and how they differ in terms of sociability, selfesteem, and sexual permissiveness, with the aim of stimulating further research in the field. Participants (N = 75) were recruited over social media and completed questionnaires assessing motivation to use online dating, sociability, self-esteem, and sexual permissiveness. No differences were found in motivations, suggesting that people may use both Online Dating Agencies and TinderTM for similar reasons. Tinder users in the current sample were younger than online dating agency users, which accounted for observed group differences in sexual permissiveness. There were no differences in self-esteem or sociability between the groups. Men were more likely than women to use both types of dating to find casual sex partners than women. Men also scored more highly on a measure of sexual permissiveness than women. These findings support previous research in indicating that users of both TinderTM and Online Dating Agencies do not differ from the general population. *Corresponding author: Kathleen Hodkinson, Department of Psychology, Webster Vienna Private University, Palais Wenkheim, Praterstrasse 23, Wien 1020, Austria E-mail: Kathleen.hodkinson@webster. ac.at