Data Digest 0004 - Digital Voyeur: Computer Mediated Cruising
Note: this publication includes depictions of sexual activity and nudity. It is intended for mature audiences only (18+ or as defined by local law).
This zine explores the evolution of cruising from physical spaces to networked environments, examining how queer connection has adapted to shifting technological and social conditions. From parks and restrooms to early computer mediated cruising on Bulletin Board Systems, Usenet, and Minitel, through to today’s geospatial applications, it outlines the spatial and social constructs that continue to shape contemporary platforms.
Includes red vellum sleeve.
This zine explores the evolution of cruising from physical spaces to networked environments, examining how queer connection has adapted to shifting technological and social conditions. From parks and restrooms to early computer mediated cruising on Bulletin Board Systems, Usenet, and Minitel, through to today’s geospatial applications, it outlines the spatial and social constructs that continue to shape contemporary platforms.
Drawing on anonymized data collected over a 24-hour period from an active cruising interface, it maps how desire moves between the digital and the physical. The zine examines the persistence of anonymity, the commodification of connection, and the tensions between visibility and erasure in online interfaces, highlighting the ways in which queer people navigate intimacy, safety, and self-expression. It captures the mechanics of connection and the cultural significance of spaces, whether they are dimly lit spaces or pixel-rendered environments.
