A Netnography Study About Wapa as a Mobile Dating Application

Year 2018, , 343 - 367, 15.12.2018

Bilge Narin

https://doi.org/10.17572/mj2018.2.343367

Cited By: 5

Abstract

This study examines gender performances and communication styles on mobile dating applications (MDAs) in the context of queer theory with the help of netnography methodology. The research was conducted with Wapa users from Turkey. Wapa can be defined as a popular, location-based, and real-time dating application for lesbians. The research examines the self-presentation narratives from the contents of user accounts and focuses on the user experiences that were obtained via online interviews. Based on the findings, this study contributes to the literature about communication, technology, and gender studies by revealing both male and female masculinity in a mobile communication environment. Although MDA technology is considered an opportunity for users to specify their preferred age range, proximity and sexual orientation, the mobile environment is also an area where stereotyping about queer identities is reproduced and circulates.

Keywords

Wapa, location-based dating apps, mobile communication, queer theory, netnography

Mobil Flört Uygulaması Wapa Hakkında Bir Netnografi Çalışması

Abstract

Bu araştırmada mobil flört uygulamalarında (MFU) cinsiyet performasları ve iletişim biçimleri queer kuram ve netnografi yöntemi ile incelenmiştir. Araştırma Türkiye’deki Wapa kullanıcıları ile gerçekleştirilmiştir. Wapa lezbiyenleri hedef alan popüler, konum bazlı ve gerçek zamanlı bir mobil flört uygulamasıdır. Bu çalışmada Wapa kullanıcılarının profillerinde kendilerini tanıtırken kullandıkları anlatılar incelenmekte ve çevrimiçi mülakatlar aracılığıyla elde edilen kullanıcı deneyimlerine odaklanılmaktadır. Araştırma bulguları bir mobil iletişim ortamında erkek ve kadınların yeniden ürettiği maskülenliğini ortaya çıkararak iletişim, teknoloji ve cinsiyet çalışmalarıyla ilgili literatüre katkıda bulunmaktadır. Araştırma sonunda MFU teknolojisinin kullanıcılara yaş aralığı, coğrafi yakınlık ve cinsel yönelim gibi seçenekler sunmasına karşın; mobil ortamın aynı zamanda queer kimlikler hakkındaki klişeleri yeniden üreten ve dolaşıma sokan bir alan olduğu saptanmıştır.

Keywords

Wapa, konum tabanlı flört uygulamaları, mobil iletişim, queer kuram, netnografi

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