Des chercheurs connectés : jongler entre proximité de la drague et mise à distance du sexuel sur les applications gaies de rencontre

Abstract

Based on two studies of the experiences of men who have sex with men (MSM) in France, this article examines the challenges faced by the researchers in their digital survey methods. Despite exploring different topics (MSM in the housing estates of the Parisian suburbia; and the use of homosexual dating apps in rural areas), both studies share the use of location-based dating apps to recruit participants. The article therefore questions the peculiarities of using these digital dating platforms as a research method, focusing on researchers’ readings, interpretations, and navigation within these sexually charged digital spaces. It also examines their reintegration into the hierarchy of desirability, analysing the resulting consequences such as flirting, sexual propositions, and legitimacy. In a context of increasing research conducted through the internet and dating apps, particularly led by young researchers, this article aims to explore the methodological challenges of research experiences in the field of humanities and social sciences.