ArticleFrontiers in psychology2026
Constructing intimacy in algorithm mediated online dating: experiences of Chinese young adults.
Article in Frontiers in psychology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
Introduction: Online matchmaking has become an increasingly common way for young people to establish intimate relationships in the digital age. Rather than serving as neutral communication tools, online matchmaking platforms actively shape mate selection, emotional interaction, and relationship development through algorithmic recommendation systems. Although research on algorithmic governance has expanded rapidly, limited attention has been paid to how algorithmic logic shapes intimate relationship construction throughout online matchmaking. This study therefore explores the mechanisms through which algorithmic logic influences young people's online matchmaking practices and intimate relationship construction. Methods: Participants included 27 young adults with experience using online matchmaking applications (14 women and 13 men; born in the 1990s). Data were collected through the Walkthrough Method, netnography, and semi-structured interviews. Guided by the coding procedures of Grounded Theory, data were analyzed using NVivo 14 through open, axial, and selective coding. Results: Three main themes were identified, each corresponding to one research question: (a) patterns of online matchmaking practices; (b) mechanisms of algorithmically mediated intimacy construction; and (c) algorithmic perception, negotiation, and resistance. Together, these themes illustrate the dynamic interplay between algorithmic logic, platform affordances, and young people's relational practices throughout the construction of intimate relationships. Discussion: Drawing on a sociology of technology perspective, particularly Foucault's theory of technology and technological embodiment theory, the findings demonstrate that algorithmic logic functions as an active socio-technical force rather than merely a recommendation mechanism. This study proposes a process-oriented framework of algorithmically mediated intimacy construction, highlighting how young people continuously negotiate and reconstruct intimate relationships through interactions with platform algorithms. Future research should further examine this framework across different cultural contexts and platform environments.
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