Galatasaray Üniversitesi İletişim Dergisi 1305-2411 2548-124X Galatasaray Üniversitesi 10.16878/gsuilet.1586961 Communication Technology and Digital Media Studies İletişim Teknolojisi ve Dijital Medya Çalışmaları Mapping Dating Spaces: Spatial Strategies of Young Adults Using Location-Based Dating Apps in Turkey Cartographie des espaces de rencontre : Stratégies spatiales des jeunes adultes utilisant des applications de rencontres géolocalisées en Turquie Flört Mekânlarını Haritalamak: Türkiye'de Konum Tabanlı Tanışma Uygulamalarını Kullanan Genç Yetişkinlerin Mekânsal Stratejileri https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7435-6278 Sunam Audry Aylin Kadir Has Üniversitesi https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4732-2077 Cöbek Gözde KADIR HAS UNIVERSITY, FACULTY OF COMMUNICATION, NEW DEPARTMENT OF MEDIA https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4800-8303 Kaya Yiğit Bahadır KADIR HAS UNIVERSITY, INSTITUTE OF GRADUATE PROGRAMS, DEPARTMENT OF WOMEN STUDIES, WOMEN'S STUDIES (DR) 12 29 2024 41 17 45 11 17 2024 12 18 2024 Copyright © 2004, Galatasaray Üniversitesi İletişim Dergisi 2004 Galatasaray Üniversitesi İletişim Dergisi

This article provides insight into the spatial strategies of young adults residing in metropolitan and non-metropolitan cities who utilize location-based dating applications. The study encompassed the analysis of 64 young users, aged between 18 and 30, from six different cities in Turkey. The fuzzy cognitive mapping method (Kosko, 1986) was employed to gain insights into their spatial strategies and decision-making processes. The findings indicate that gender and geographical patterns inherent to the cultural milieu (metropolitan and non-metropolitan) exert a pronounced influence on the spatial strategies of dating apps users and the tactics they employ when encountering prospective partners in the city. The study makes a significant contribution to the existing literature on the subject by demonstrating the influence of factors such as anonymity, social pressure and security concerns on the practices of users of location-based dating applications in relation to their use of urban spaces.

Cet article donne un aperçu des stratégies spatiales des jeunes adultes résidant dans des villes métropolitaines et non métropolitaines qui utilisent des applications de rencontres géolocalisées. L'étude porte sur l'analyse de 64 jeunes utilisateurs, âgés de 18 à 30 ans et résidant dans six villes différentes de Turquie. La méthode de cartographie cognitive floue (Kosko, 1986) a permis de mieux comprendre leurs stratégies spatiales et leurs processus décisionnels. Les résultats de l'étude révèlent que le genre, l'orientation sexuelle et les modèles géographiques inhérents au milieu culturel (métropolitain et non métropolitain) exercent une influence prononcée sur les stratégies spatiales des utilisateurs d'applications de rencontres géolocalisées et sur les tactiques qu'ils emploient lorsqu'ils rencontrent des partenaires potentiels dans la ville. L'étude apporte une contribution significative à la littérature existante sur le sujet en démontrant l'influence de facteurs tels que l'anonymat, la pression sociale et les préoccupations en matière de sécurité sur les pratiques des utilisateurs d'applications de rencontres géolocalisées en ce qui concerne leur utilisation des espaces urbains.

Bu makale metropol ve metropol dışı şehirlerinde yaşayan ve konum tabanlı tanışma uygulamalarını kullanan genç yetişkinlerin mekânsal stratejileri hakkında bir değerlendirme sunmaktadır. Çalışma kapsamında, Türkiye’nin 6 farklı şehrinde yaşayan,18-30 yaş arası, 64 genç kullanıcının konum tabanlı tanışma uygulamaları aracılığıyla tanıştıkları partnerleriyle ilk buluşma mekân seçimleri bulanık bilişsel haritalama yöntemi (Kosko, 1986) ile incelenmiştir. Araştırmanın sonuçları toplumsal cinsiyetin ve kültürel ortama özgü coğrafi kalıpların (metropol ve metropol dışı) konum tabanlı tanışma uygulama kullanıcılarının mekânsal stratejilerini ve partner adayları ile buluşurken başvurdukları taktikleri önemli ölçüde belirlediğini göstermektedir.

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