Unmasking the self on dating apps: Embracing Authenticity for a journey towards better well-being?

Nowadays, dating applications have become highly popular among young people. Researchers in media and communication have studied dating apps from a variety of angles, nevertheless the users' well-being has been neglected. Therefore, it is essential to investigate the factors that may have a significant impact on the well-being of dating app users, as long-term poor well-being may contribute to mental and physical disorders. This thesis investigated how the self- presentation of dating app users affects their well-being. Furthermore, this thesis investigated whether relationship seeking as a motive for using a dating app moderates the relationship between self- presentation and well-being. In addition, the study examined whether self-esteem and the frequency of using dating apps were effective predictors of well-being. The thesis also explored the cultural differences that may exist between Western European and Chinese dating app users in terms of self- presentation styles and well-being. As Western European culture is characterized by individualism, Chinese culture has its roots in collectivism. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted, and 167 valid responses were gathered for data analyses and hypotheses testing. The results reveal that the self-presentation of dating app users has different associations with their well-being. Users of dating apps who present themselves authentically experience greater well-being, while those who present themselves deceptively experience poorer well-being. Furthermore, relationship seeking motive has a significant moderating effect on the relationship between deceptive self-presentation and negative affect, suggesting that users who use dating apps to find romantic partners are more likely to experience more negative well-being. In addition, self-esteem is a significant predictor of negative affect but not positive affect, whereas the frequency of use of dating apps is a strong predictor of positive affect but not negative affect. Last but not least, the results indicate that there is no significant difference between Western European and Chinese consumers of dating apps in terms of two types of self-presentation (authentic and deceptive). However, Chinese users of dating applications reported higher positive affect than their Western European counterparts. This thesis contributes to our understanding of the relationship between self-presentation and well-being. In addition, it demonstrates that dating applications may share many similarities with social media, particularly in terms of the relationship between user self-presentation and well-being. In terms of practical implications, users of dating apps should be aware that using them to discover romantic partners may result in more negative outcomes.