DLSU Senior High School Research Congress Conference Proceedings
Document Type
Paper Presentation
Research Advisor (Last Name, First Name, Middle Initial)
Astudillo, Ma. Liezl R.
Abstract/Executive Summary
This study explores how observers—individuals who observe but do not engage in online dating—perceive the motivations and behaviors of dating app users. While research has extensively explored the experiences of active users, a notable gap exists in understanding the perspectives of those who remain outside these digital spaces. Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), it captured how observers constructed meaning around online relationships within the Philippine cultural context. Interviews with 11 young adults elicited that observers generally perceive online dating as convenience-driven and less genuine than conventional relationships. Notably, participants compared app-based connections to culturally established rituals such as “panliligaw,” or courtship, linking the former with less effort, fleeting intentions, and weaker commitment. Media depiction and secondhand accounts also figured in such perceptions, tending to reinforce stigmas of superficiality or emotional deficiency. While observers acknowledged multiple user motivations, they were more likely to question the authenticity and depth of online relationships. These results revealed a disconnect between the lived experiences of digital dating and observers' perceptions, mirroring wider cultural tensions between modern and traditional relationship values. The research opens new paths in the social narratives of online romance and calls for bridging perception gaps through open discussion and future research.
Keywords
online dating; observers; non-users; perceptions of motivations; perceptions of behaviors