Mediated Hook-Up: Gratifications and Psychological Attributes as Predictors of Chinese College Students' Hook-up Behaviors

Introduction

“Online hookup devices” (Race, 2015) have exploded in recent years. Apps such as Tinder, Grinder and MoMo have facilitated sex seeking, particularly based on location awareness of others (Choi et al., 2017; Licoppe & Inada, 2010; Liu, 2016). These apps allow interactions with strangers by “typically displaying photos of nearby users, which can be clicked to reveal a more detailed profile and initiate immediate interaction via text chat” (Birnholtz et al., 2014, p. 1). As these apps have millions of active users worldwide and one of their pervasive uses is oriented towards casual sex (Licoppe et al., 2016), it is worthy to understand the uses and their effects from the socio-psychological perspectives. Why do people, especially the youth, become so obsessed with sexual encounters through these apps? Despite a few studies found certain motives and gratifications (ibid; Landovitz et al., 2013), the way in which online hook-ups and offline sexual possibilities are related to psychological traits has not been explored, as well as nuanced gratifications. Meanwhile, previous research mostly focused on homosexual group (Miller, 2015; Van De Wiele & Tong, 2014). These perspectives however largely attribute risky behaviors and dangerous outcomes (e.g. HIV spreading) to hook-up devices use (Bauermeister et al., 2011; Mustanske et al., 2011). It is thus worthwhile clarifying ‘positive’ reasons behind such use among heterosexual groups, and the gratifications they seek.

Additionally, despite hook-up is a widespread phenomenon in Western society, particularly among college students (Bogle, 2008; Garcia et al., 2012; Monto & Carey, 2014), hook-up in China is considered culturally and morally degenerate (Liu, 2011). Chinese youth’s sexuality has also long been suppressed under the Party’s leash (e.g. sex education) (Aresu, 2009). Yet, changes occurred. For example, studies have found an increased percentage (from 10.7%, 1991 to 32%, 2006) of college students in premarital sex (Pan, 2007). One also witnesses a more receptive attitude towards nuanced and complex sexual behaviors among the youth (Zheng et al., 2011). Furthermore, China currently has ranked first for smartphone users (CNNIC, 2015). The domestic hook-up apps are flourishing and show strong market performance (see MoMo Inc. and the U.S. NASDAQ, 2014). Not much academic attention has yet been paid to investigate the behavioral patterns of Chinese hook-up devices users.

This study would therefore fill the research gap between examining heterosexual-youth-hook-up app relationship in China and identifying specific gratifications sought from MoMo, a popular computing first designed and developed for strangers to hook up under China’s context (Liu, 2016). In explaining mediated-communication behavior and its origins, examining the objectives and the underlying assumptions of uses and gratifications perspective seems to constitute a good approach. What motivates users to hook up online, and how gratifications and psychological traits affect the initiation and accomplishment of online hook-ups are important research topics.