REDEFINING ‘DATING’ FOR MALAY-MUSLIM YOUTHS IN SINGAPORE THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA AND ONLINE DATING APPLICATIONS

Abstract

Using Appadurai’s (1996) global cultural flows, this thesis will view globalisation through social media platforms and online dating applications. Some of the tensions arising from globalisation includes the notion of cultural homogenisation where local cultures get consumed and lost within the dominant Western culture (Ritzer, 1993). Hence, by using Singapore as a research area, one is able to explore how dominant and Western ideas such as ‘dating’ is interpreted among youths socialising in a conservative Malay-Muslim community. Here, one will also observe the tensions between global forces and the respective power players of the society. Thus, this thesis aims to investigate the significance of globalisation through social media and online dating applications in allowing Malay-Muslim youths in Singapore to attach new meanings to the term ‘dating’. With that, it further explores how they negotiate their Malay-Muslim identity with respect to orthodox Western ideas and religious integrity.