The digital city and the increasing tendency of women to virtual marriage

This study aimed to analyze the impact of the digital city on women's willingness to find a marriage partner through the virtual space in the city of Kerman. 16 female users were selected through a theoretical and purposeful sampling technique. The data collection was conducted through semi-structured interviews and MAX Q DA software version 12 was used to process the data. The findings showed that a significant number of users in the virtual marriage sites were married women who used the anonymity of virtual space to their own advantage. After combining, integrating and comparing concepts, Five common categories were found among married and single female users (chat addiction, having limited experience, evading of face-to-face dating, sex as entertaiment). There were also two specific categories of married female users (disguise of marital status and and low satisfaction with marriage) and two specific categories of single female users (sense of freedom and chat as a cure for loneliness). Based on story line by participants, a core category entitled “chat as a resistance shelter of urban momen” was revealed.