Table 2.
Theme | Sub-themes | ||
---|---|---|---|
Meanings | Normalized practice Enmeshment within broader online cultures of image presentation |
||
Multiplicity of goals Balancing possibility and risk |
Meeting partners for enduring romantic relationships Meeting people for one-off sexual encounters Dating Boosting self-esteem and empowerment Entirely online sexual actions and interactions Sharing online experiences with friends |
||
Possibilities Risks |
Enabling sexual adventure Instrumental efficiency Boredom Presenting oneself as “sleazy” Self-loathing Rejection Misaligned expectations Unsolicited explicit images or premature or otherwise inappropriate explicit proposition False representations Meeting “creeps” or the risk of abuse or violence Onward sharing of explicit images |
||
Withdrawal from online dating symbolizing commitment | |||
Materials Competencies |
Affordances of the technologies Technical competencies |
Efficient searching and screening and blocking of potential contacts Range of different apps and websites General social media technologies Blurring of online and face-to-face networks and interactions Searching for and assessing potential contacts Creating and sharing intimate images to minimize risks that these would be shared |
|
Social and emotional competencies | Managing one’s interactions with contacts Self-care |
Being clear about whether their goals aligned or not Being clear with oneself about one’s goals Setting limits to one’s engagement |