Tinder, as one of the most popular online dating applications, is nicknamed the ‘hookup app’. The existence of negative perceptions inherent amongst the public was born because of the way users in western countries operate the application, which is not in accordance with the norms adopted in Indonesia. It has made many people assume that most Tinder users are not those who want to have a long-term romantic relationship, and the possibility of getting a partner who will commit is not a common idea. This research aims to find out the development of emotional intimacy and the initiation of a close relationship between Tinder users who have managed to find their partner through the Tinder application and communication mediated by computers (internet). This research uses a qualitative approach. Primary and secondary data collection techniques are done by in-depth interviews and netnographic observations. The results of this study indicate that 1) Tinder has not been able to accommodate the development of emotional intimacy and the initiation of close relationships wholly without the assistance of other types of communication media or platform; 2) The time needed to form a relationship initiated by two users who meet at Tinder tends to be faster than those who meet conventionally; 3) The perception in society about the small number of people looking for long-term romantic relationships through the Tinder application is not entirely accurate.

Keywords: CMC, Tinder, Online Dating, Close Relationship, Emotional Intimacy