Canary is a digital subscription service that sends its users friendly prompts, promoting safe sexual health practices. Online dating has grown to be one of the primary ways people meet their sexual partners in 2014. Among urban young adults, OKCupid.com has emerged as the most popular platform regardless of gender or orientation. Websites such as these facilitate both relationship matchmaking and casual sexual encounters. As such, the use of dating websites enables users to schedule a greater number of encounters than meeting potential partners in a bar or other conventional methods.
In the first phase of this project, Charlotte, Gaia, Matt, and I conducted extensive ethnographic research by comparing hour-long interviews with online dating users to the data distilled from a 140-person online survey. The goal of this research was to understand the mechanics, assumptions and culture of contemporary online dating. Ultimately, we understood the importance of the internet’s role in connecting people to their individual needs and desires. Research also revealed the importance of visual culture and contemporary imagery in affecting behavior. Our group believes that health-oriented organizations can reach a broader audience through the creation of new experiences and visual languages.
At sign-up, Canary asks a series of simple questions to help create a dater profile for its users, prepping the platform to send them relevant information tailored towards their dating lifestyle. Users can then choose to receive their prompts either via SMS or email. Through this passive, yet convenient, delivery of information to its subscribers, Canary does not need to be opened or consulted in order to deliver these prompts - ideal for the busy online dater.
This project was developed in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and led by Kyla Fullenwider of Imperative.