Understanding Muslims Self-presentation Strategies in Online Dating

Abstract

This paper investigates the factors influencing online self-presentation strategies on dating platforms, and explore how Muslims users manage their online presentation on dating approach –associated with Muslim-oriented dating application and mainstream-oriented dating application in order to accomplish the goal of finding partner. Twenty-profiles from Tinder and MusMatch active online dating user was used for the study. Qualitative content analysis was used to explore the approaches of interactions associated with individual self-presentation. Four main themes were generated: Screen names, Terminal identities, Net Presence and Personal Profile. The findings reveal that both MusMatch and Tinder allow its users to choose their own screen names without any restrictions. The platforms showed how screen names can be used as a strategy to present certain impression. Users tend to post their personal interests in order to attract their potential partners on Tinder as well as MuzMatch. Users of MuzMatch used acronyms to identify themselves, whereas, users of Tinders are free to construct a socially desirable identity that may attract people’s attention and publicity. The frequency with which MusMatch users appear to interact for relationship that leads to marriage is far more than any other form of relationship. Tinder users are free to post anything as their profile picture, whereas in MuzMatch it requires authentic profile pictures. MusMatch provision for establishing relationship requires that a chaperone should be allow to mediate interactions among the potential partners in order to preserve Muslims-oriented dating style