Title: Transnational Analysis of Platforms: Case Studies of Dating Apps
Abstract: In this talk, I explore dating apps as vehicles for transnationalism. By examining platforms such as Tinder and Grindr, I introduce the concept of the “eroscape”—a transnational digital space where desires, practices, and relationships flow across borders. I will discuss four illustrative scenes to demonstrate how dating platforms perpetuate inequalities while simultaneously providing spaces for agency and connection. My analysis highlights the influence of global flows of bodies, capital, fantasies, platforms, and values, showcasing how these platforms operate as sites of both domination and resistance.
Biography: I am a Lecturer (equivalent to Assistant Professor) in Digital Cultures at the University of Sydney’s Discipline of Media and Communications and a member of the Chinese Studies Centre. I am also an Adjunct Associate Professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong’s School of Journalism and Communication. Previously, I was the George Gerbner Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg School for Communication. I earned my Ph.D. in Communication from the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communications and Journalism.
