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Practices and Challenges of Online Love-seeking Among Deaf or Hard of Hearing People: A Case Study in China

Beiyan Cao, Changyang He, Jingling Zhang, Yuru Huang, Muzhi Zhou, Mingming Fan

Abstract

People who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH) in China are increasingly exploring online platforms to connect with potential partners. This research explores the online dating experiences of DHH communities in China, an area that has not been extensively researched. We interviewed sixteen participants who have varying levels of hearing ability and love-seeking statuses to understand how they manage their identities and communicate with potential partners online. We find that DHH individuals made great efforts to navigate the rich modality features to seek love online. Participants used both algorithm-based dating apps and community-based platforms like forums and WeChat to facilitate initial encounters through text-based functions that minimized the need for auditory interaction, thus fostering a more equitable starting point. Community-based platforms were found to facilitate more in-depth communication and excelled in fostering trust and authenticity, providing a more secure environment for genuine relationships. Design recommendations are proposed to enhance the accessibility and inclusiveness of online dating platforms for DHH individuals in China. This research sheds light on the benefits and challenges of online dating for DHH individuals in China and provides guidance for platform developers and researchers to enhance user experience in this area.

Practices and Challenges of Online Love-seeking Among Deaf or Hard of Hearing People: A Case Study in China

Abstract

People who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH) in China are increasingly exploring online platforms to connect with potential partners. This research explores the online dating experiences of DHH communities in China, an area that has not been extensively researched. We interviewed sixteen participants who have varying levels of hearing ability and love-seeking statuses to understand how they manage their identities and communicate with potential partners online. We find that DHH individuals made great efforts to navigate the rich modality features to seek love online. Participants used both algorithm-based dating apps and community-based platforms like forums and WeChat to facilitate initial encounters through text-based functions that minimized the need for auditory interaction, thus fostering a more equitable starting point. Community-based platforms were found to facilitate more in-depth communication and excelled in fostering trust and authenticity, providing a more secure environment for genuine relationships. Design recommendations are proposed to enhance the accessibility and inclusiveness of online dating platforms for DHH individuals in China. This research sheds light on the benefits and challenges of online dating for DHH individuals in China and provides guidance for platform developers and researchers to enhance user experience in this area.

Paper Structure

This paper contains 36 sections, 1 figure, 1 table.

Table of Contents

  1. INTRODUCTION
  2. RELATED WORK AND BACKGROUND
  3. Digital Technology Accessibility for DHH Individuals
  4. Identity Management in Online Dating
  5. Cultural and Social Context for Chinese DHH People in Online Love-seeking
  6. METHOD
  7. Procedure
  8. Data Analysis
  9. Participants
  10. FINDINGS
  11. Platform Empowerment
  12. Identity Management
  13. Self-Presentation through Profiles
  14. Self Disclosure
  15. Challenges of DHH Identity Disclosure
  16. ...and 21 more sections

Figures (1)

  • Figure 1: Two DHH matchmakers are introducing their matchmaking activities and services on Douyin. The left picture (1) shows a DHH matchmaker introducing an offline matchmaking activity in sign language. The right one (2) shows a DHH matchmaker introducing his matchmaking services for DHH people with 4 hashtags (#deaf people, #matchmaking, #disability, #matchmaker) on the screen. He had many silk banners in the background. This indicated the success of the matchmaker who had helped many people to find their partners. These silk banners were given by his clients as gifts for appreciation.