From early chatrooms of the 90s to geolocation apps in the 2010s, gay men have been considered to be early adopters of online dating. While today's gay dating apps offer unprecedented convenience for gay men to connect within their community, their widespread use has brought about some negative impacts, including issues related to sexual racism, body image, and the changing dynamics of social spaces for gay men. In this episode, we’re exploring the historical trajectory from gay dating sites to the emergence of today's gay dating apps, the potentially harmful effects they can have on mental health, and how we can adopt healthier habits to navigate gay dating in the digital age. Related Episodes: Listen to Episode 24. Gay Villages: Won't You Be My Gaybor?Listen to Episode 53. Stop Comparing Yourself to Other GaysListen to Bonus 07. Ranking Gay Dating AppsAdditional Resources: Online Dating in the U.S.The History of Online DatingThe History of Online Dating: A Timeline From Paper Ads to WebsitesGay History Month: The Evolution of LGBTQ+ Online DatingWhat is Gaydar?How Grindr Took Over the Gay Scene and Changed Dating for EveryoneGrindr - Statistics & FactsThe Founders of This Gay Dating App Won't Stop You Searching by RaceWhat is Jack’d?What is Hornet?GROWLr Sold for $11.8 Million to Straight Social App CompanyWhy Dating Apps Are Racist AF — With or Without Ethnicity FiltersThe Influence of Grindr: An Exploratory StudyOrthorexia Nervosa in Gay MenGrindr Was the First Big Dating App for Gay Men. Now It’s Falling Out of Favor.Grindr Security Flaw Exposes Users' Location DataSupport the Show. Get Your Merch