I am a PhD student of Sociology at UC Berkeley studying online dating, the sharing economy, social exchange, and culture.

My dissertation leverages a comparative approach to ask the question: How do singles in the U.S. and China online dating differently? More specifically, I am interested in how folks in the two most populous cities of the respective countries—New York City and Shanghai—strike a balance between abundancy (i.e. the sheer number of people made available through dating apps) and scarcity (i.e. time, energy, and money etc.). When do they stop looking? How do they know when to commit?

Peer-Reviewed Articles

Watson, Ryan J., Snapp, Shannon D.*, & Wang, Skyler*. 2017. “What We Know and Where To Go From Here: A Review of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Youth Hookup Literature.” Sex Roles, 77(11- 12), 801-811.
(*Dr. Snapp and I contributed equally as co-authors.)

Wang, Skyler. 2016. “Igniting a ‘Pink Dot’: Legal Pragmatism and Cultural Resonance in Singapore’s First LGBT Movement.” Sojourners, 8, 4-14.

• Best Article – Francesco Duina Scholarship Award

Wang, Skyler. 2016. “A Critique from Within: The Core of Ai Weiwei’s ‘Sunflower Seeds.’” Undergraduate Journal of Art History & Visual Culture, (7), 10-17.

Policy Reports

MacAulay, Maggie & Wang, Skyler. 2016. #ResistStigma: How Do We Get There? Vancouver, BC: Community-Based Research Center for Gay Men’s Health.
English | Français

Public Sociology

Wang, Skyler. 2017. “The Pink Dot Redrawn.” The Middle Ground. Published Jun 9. 

Wang, Skyler. 2016. “Progressives must leave Echo Chamber to Trump Hate.” The Daily Californian. Published Nov 18.

Wang, Skyler. 2016. “The Purpose of Studying Love Sociologically: A Pedagogical Experiment.” Queer Voices. Published Oct 27.

Wang, Skyler. 2016. “The Missing Puzzle: Environmentalism in An Era of Identity Politics.” Climate Refuge. Published April 15. 

Wang, Skyler. 2015. “A Sea of Change: UBC as a Hotbed for Evolving Views on Homosexuality.” The Ubyssey. Published September 16. 

“Love Data Week: Online dating expert talks data (and 5 tips for online dating).” UC Berkeley Library, Published Feb 12, 2019.

“The rise of the Tinder-themed wedding.” Mashable, Published Feb 10, 2019. 

“’Dating Sunday’: The busiest day of the year for online dating is Jan. 6.” USA Today, Published Jan 5, 2019.

“Are Dating Apps Affecting Our Mental Health?” Wisconsin Public Radio, Published Nov 1, 2018.

“Millennials don’t want to own things. Startups are eager to help.” San Francisco Chronicle,  Published Sep 10, 2018.

“Finding Love in a Hopeless Place.” New Hampshire Public Radio, Published Aug 17, 2018.

“Be My (Rural) Valentine: Finding Love Outside of Town.” Jefferson Public Radio, Published Feb 14, 2018.

“What Makes Us Click: How Online Dating Shapes Our Relationships.” National Public Radio, Published Jan 2, 2018.

“The Unlit Flame: My Tinder Misadventures.” The Ubyssey, Published Feb 10, 2016.

In 2016, I taught a course titled “What Makes You Click: The Sociology of Online Dating” at the University of British Columbia. The course focuses on using sociological perspectives to help students understand broad patterns of this new way of relationship formation, while concomitantly directing heavy attention at equipping them with scientific knowledge to better them as partners, be it in their romantic or platonic relationships.

I have since been invited to give public lectures and private talks on the topic of online dating. During my free time, I also mentor individuals who want to bolster their online dating game. Please reach out to me if you have any inquiries.