Love, Intimacy and Online Dating

Love, Intimacy and Online Dating: How a Global Pandemic Redefined Romantic Relationships is an innovative work that explores the concept of intimacy during the COVID-19 pandemic. The book provides an overview of the online dating world and apps, the use of which gradually became common as the pandemic restricted people's interaction in the physical world. The author's extensive research conducted during the pandemic posits a comprehensive understanding of the individual's motivation to join a dating app and explores its varied aspects. This thoroughly researched book explores the themes and elements of online dating and examines the users' motivation for joining a dating app, for seeking intimacy as well as for self-presentation on the app. Portolan examines the underlying politics and role of infrastructure of dating apps and describes how gender, power, and intimacy intersect to create new intimacy phenomena. She also utilises her research to put forth the key concept of "Jagged Love", which describes a user's cyclical relationship with dating apps during the pandemic, and the gap between a user's act to seek familiar romantic narratives and the app's inability to deliver against these ideas. The chapters further explore the differences between virtual and In Real Life (IRL) intimacy, the generation of gender and the emanation of stereotypical cultural ideals that the users sought through the apps. The book serves as an invaluable discussion on the pandemic's impact on modifying the definitions of romance and intimacy. This book will be useful for highlighting the impact social factors can have on familiar concepts and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the definition of love and intimacy, making it fascinating for students, academics and professionals interested in relationships, digital media and gender. It will also be useful in enhancing the comprehension of love and romance in the fields of social science.

Lisa Portolan is a researcher and author from Sydney, Australia. Her research focusses on intimacy, romance, dating apps and gender, and she regularly writes for publications like The Conversation. She is the author of best-selling titles, and is often featured on programmes, such as, the Today Show, the Drum and beyond, while her top ten podcast, Slow Love, documented dating and love during the pandemic.

1. Introduction. 2. Social Context. 3. Jagged Love - The conflict : romance vs dating apps. 4. (Digital) Intimacy vs IRL intimacy and why the distinction still needs to be made. 5. High Maintenance Girls and Aussie Blokes : love and gender stereotypes during Covid times. 6. Messiness - Three anecdotes. 7. References.