An Assessment of the Changing Perceptions About Digital Dating Among the Youth in Nairobi County

Abstract

The proliferation of online dating sites and mobile phone apps in Kenya has seen a steady rise in the number of people using such platforms to initiate romantic relationships. The main objective of this inquiry was to assess the changing perceptions about online dating among the youth in Nairobi County. Further, the study also aimed at analyzing the major contributing factors fueling digital dating among the youth, and finally to establish the challenges related to digital dating practices. The study is a descriptive research design with a mixed-method approach where quantitative data was collected using the survey method and qualitative data was collected from the respondents using in-depth interviews. The instruments used for collecting the data included a questionnaire for the survey and an interview guide for in-depth interviews. This inquiry was guided by two theories namely, Uses and Gratifications theory and Social Information Processing (SIP) theory. The target population was Youth aged between 18-35 years and living within Nairobi County. The sample frame was based on a Facebook dating group, Kenya Singles Network that had 32124 members at the time of this study. The Taro Yamane formula was used to calculate the sample population. From the formula, 100 participants were earmarked for the survey which registered a response rate of 82%. Stratified Random sampling was used to obtain the 100 participants for the study. The structure of the survey questionnaire accommodated closed-ended questions in addition to a single open-ended question. The data collected from the open-ended question provided the basis, which the study relied on to purposively identify participants for the Qualitative study. Some of the respondents had unique and rich experiences, which informed their selection through purposive sampling. From the 15 selected participants, only 12 respondents were interviewed given the saturation point attainment hence translating to a response rate of 80%. For the quantitative approach, the data generated was analyzed using descriptive methods while the analysis of qualitative data was based on inductive analysis which involves studying the data collected through emerging themes and descriptions. The Likert Rating Scale was used to gauge the respondents’ attitudes and opinions on the various issues at hand. The analyzed quantitative data is presented in graphical representations of tables and a pie chart while the qualitative data is presented using narrative. From the data collected, the results indicate that online dating is gaining ground. For instance, the reduction of social stigma that was largely attached to online dating has contributed to the uptake of online dating. In addition, the growth in access to broadband internet and connected devices have also played a significant role in entrenching access to social networks among the youth in Nairobi, County. Still, the study also found that numerous challenges such as fraud, misrepresentation of user profiles, and safety of users among others continue to weigh down confidence among those engaged in online dating.