How has Covid-19 pandemic unearthed hidden social affordances on Tinder: A virtual ethnography on dating in Turkey

In this study, we explore changing social relations and dynamics during pandemic, particularly in online dating via one of the most popular dating apps, Tinder. Conducting a virtual ethnography on Tinder over a 2 month period, we determine four main changes in the context of online dating: changes in the community, changes in the conversations, changes in the context of video call, and changes in the perception of online dating. Embracing the notion of social affordances, we further discuss how these changes have initiated new forms of social interaction in the Tinder community, making members realise the hidden social affordances of the app. Considering these shifts in the context of online dating, we discuss how any narrow definition of dating, and more broadly socialising online, may adversely impact users’ online social experiences. Hence, we offer design implications that provide allowing variety in online (dating) communities, and merging offline and online.