Constructing Identities:An Exploration Into How Chinese Gay Males Self Present On Blued

This study explores how Chinese men who have sex with men(MSM)self-present their sexual identity on the widely used Chinese gay dating app Blued.Theorizing Goffman's(1956)self-presentation theory,the research samples 1900 users' profile photos,text and selfdisclosed sexual role preferences from across China.Results show users were less likely to show their faces and disclose expressive text on Blued because of the strong stigma of homosexuality in China.In addition,seeking sex was not often explicitly visible,implying�slut-shaming� is in force.Results also suggest that users may alter their sexual role preferences in order to gain more contacts,and that there is preference for masculinity.This shows that Chinese MSM are deliberately selective in what they share,due to the nature of their audience.It also demonstrates a preference by Chinese MSM to remain anonymous on the dating app,and a desire to avoid identifiability by others.Despite this,more younger Chinese MSM had a higher frequency in displaying a face photo and using expressive text.This difference between age and results is suggestive to a current shift in gay politics within China,and on par with the changing values of the younger Chinese generations.Given the limited research,of which previous works mainly focus on forming connections between the internet and health issues,or on their Western counterparts,the findings expands the body of research on self-presentation online.It adds to the growing literature of new media and cultural communication research,research on sexuality and culture,and to the understanding of identity construction in MSM virtual spaces.