Imagining Queer Futures: Dating App Edition

[ UUID ] 3035e0e2-0c3d-4752-b075-218dce368a8d

[ Session Name ] Imagining Queer Futures: Dating App Edition [ Primary Space ] Queering MozFest [ Secondary Space ] Digital Inclusion

[ Submitter's Name ] Afsaneh Rigot [ Submitter's Affiliated Organisation ] ARTICLE 19

[ Other Facilitator 1's Name ] Afsaneh Rigot

[ Other Facilitator 2's Name ] Norman Shamas

What will happen in your session?

We will envisage a queer dating app utopia. One where the app feels secure and respectful of its user; one where the user’s privacy, autonomy, and consent have been considered, taking out the physical and digital risks. Despite being very far from this utopia, we will show that there are methods we as users and apps as the providers can take to reduce the risks of online dating.

The session will be setout go in these stages:

Drawing up of ideal app from the participant perspective.
Show new and old cases of harms that have been encountered by queer folx from different countries.
Redefine what an ideal app should be based on these contexts.

What is the goal or outcome of your session?

In getting closer to this queer dating app utopia, we provide a concrete examples of how harm reduction can be an effective framework for security&privacy.

Outcomes:

For participants to become more mindful and see the strategies that can be put in place to use these highly popular apps in a safer way.

To present new insight encouraging not only users into this approach, but also how companies who owe responsibility to their users can take-up the same approach to implement changes to their apps, bringing in our own experience.

Finally, we learn from the ideas and expertise of the participants for next stages of our work – taking the ideas they craft directly to companies and regions for users.

If your session requires additional materials or electronic equipment, please outline your needs.

Projector, a writing board, colourful paper, pens, post-it notes.

Time needed

90 mins