The end picture is one of dating “in motion”, both shifting between generations and changing with the life course of individuals. Moreover, at the time of the research, participants were in different stages of their lives, which led to a variety of online dating practices. The results show how men from different generations got access to dating sites and apps at different times in their lives, in a shifting balance with offline dating practices. The current paper aims to contribute to this knowledge by reporting on a study involving four generations of Belgian men who have sex with men (MSM), combining insights gained in an exploratory survey (N = 684) with in-depth interviews (N = 80). Moreover, the life stage of users is not sufficiently addressed, nor are their evolving uses throughout the life course.
Although a lot of research has investigated the uses of these services, the focus is mostly on younger users, disregarding the experiences of older people.
Gay men were quick to connect online, first in chat rooms and subsequently on an ever-expanding array of sites and apps, culminating in geolocation apps such as Grindr.
From the early years of the internet, its key importance was recognized as a site for sexual minorities to explore and express their identity and sexuality.
