This qualitative study examines the non-romantic benefits of dating app usage among urban Indonesian millennials, employing a two-phase approach: an online survey (n=41) and semi-structured interviews (n=7). Findings reveal four key themes: enhanced social communication skills through iterative profile curation and message exchanges, expanded professional and non-romantic relationships, increased self-confidence from validation mechanisms, and recreational behaviors. Participants demonstrated strategic engagement patterns, with long-term users reporting sustained benefits mediated by gratification alignment between sought objectives (e.g., social inclusion) and obtained outcomes (e.g., cross-industry networking). The study contributes to understanding dating apps’ dual role as social facilitators and behavioral architects in collectivist societies, challenging Western-centric perceptions of app utility. Methodologically, the research combines thematic analysis with Uses and Gratification Theory and Attribution Theory to contextualize platform continuance in Indonesia's evolving digital courtship landscape.

Keyword:dating apps, social dynamics, Uses and Gratification Theory, Attribution Theory, computer-mediated communication.