Abstract Book of the 5th World Conference on Media and Communication
Year: 2025
DOI:
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Dating Apps and Social Media: The Blurring of Boundaries in Sexual Assault and Consent
Yujia Zhu
ABSTRACT:
The rise of dating apps and social media has revolutionized interpersonal relationships, creating new opportunities for connection while simultaneously complicating traditional understandings of sexual consent and assault. The immediacy and accessibility of digital communication blur the boundaries between virtual and real-world interactions, making consent more ambiguous and vulnerable to misinterpretation. Features such as text messaging, emojis, and digital flirtation introduce new complexities to consent negotiation, while the persistence of digital records challenges individuals’ ability to retract consent. Additionally, technology-facilitated sexual violence (TFSV) disproportionately impacts women and marginalized groups, raising concerns about digital coercion, online harassment, and privacy violations. The gamification of dating apps further exacerbates issues of consent by encouraging impulsive decision-making and reducing personal agency in intimate encounters. This paper examines how digital platforms contribute to the erosion of clear consent frameworks, the legal and ethical implications of these blurred boundaries, and the role of tech companies in safeguarding users. By integrating perspectives from law, psychology, and digital ethics, this study advocates for legal reforms, enhanced digital literacy programs, and AI-driven consent mechanisms to address the evolving challenges of consent in the digital age.
keywords: Digital consent, Dating apps, Social media, Technology-facilitated sexual violence (TFSV), Online harassment, Digital coercion, Sexual assault, Privacy violations, Gamification of dating, Legal implications of digital consent