Disclosing Survivor/Victim Identity in the Search for Queer Sexual Relationships: An Experimental Audit Study of Lesbian and Gay Users on Mobile Dating Apps

IntroductionGiven the rise of online disclosures of victimization and the potential stigma faced by those who reveal such information, this study explores the extent to which victimization disclosure impacts romantic relationship prospects via matching outcomes in gay and lesbian dating apps.MethodsAn experimental audit used pre-rated photographs submitted by participants and bio text produced by the research team to create study profiles that varied by gender and race/ethnicity. Profiles in the experimental and control conditions were identical in every way except for a brief disclosure statement of prior victimization in experimental profile bios. Data include 72,000 total attempts to match ("swipes") on dating apps and were collected from March through May 2020.ResultsFindings indicate that victimization disclosure significantly reduced match rates relative to control profiles in the White and Latinx gay and Latinx and Black lesbian conditions, while Black gay men received significantly more matches in the experimental condition. However, findings varied depending on the race/ethnicity of study profiles and dating app users who matched with study profiles.ConclusionsLesbian and gay individuals who disclose victimization experience bias associated with disclosed victimization in dating apps and intersectionality of race and gender seems to influence victim blaming. The negative impact of this discrimination on mental health could be even more serious relative to heterosexual individuals due to their already marginalized social status, especially among racially minoritized individuals.Policy ImplicationsEducational campaigns that expose the prevalence and impacts of victimization and resources available to support those who have been victimized may reduce the stigma of victimization over time, and providing comfortable online spaces for individuals to voluntarily share their experiences of victimization could allow for the development of an online community that could potentially enhance the recovery process.