Interaksi Sosial Pada Pengguna Aplikasi Tinder

The rise of social media has transformed the patterns of social interaction among university students, including through the use of dating apps such as Tinder and Bumble. This study aims to analyze students' social interactions within the context of dating app usage, drawing upon the Triangular Theory of Love. A descriptive qualitative approach was employed, utilizing purposive sampling to select six university students in Malang City. Data were collected through interviews and analyzed descriptively. The findings reveal that relationships between users evolve through a process involving matching, intense communication, openness, attraction, and trust—elements that foster intimacy, passion, and commitment. Beyond serving as a means to find romantic partners, dating apps are also used to expand social networks, despite the persistence of risks such as fake identities and "ghosting." The study concludes that dating apps function as a medium for interpersonal communication that shapes students' social interaction patterns in the digital media era.