Dating apps have become extremely popular with many young adults, especially after the pandemic when physical interaction with humans was not easy.
With dating apps like Tinder, Bumble, Grindr, Gleeden and QuackQuack, the breadth of the proverbial playing field has taken on new dimensions in cyberspace. These platforms are exponentially expanding the potential for both hookups and rejections, with the latter having a negative impact on self-esteem and increasing anxiety. Making sure you’re aware of the potential dangers of dating apps, and being in the right headspace to start slipping, can help ensure that looking for love isn’t taking a toll on your mental health.
It’s more, One’s fast-paced life also restricts meeting new people for many. In such situations, people turn to dating apps hoping to find a romantic partner, be it for a long-term relationship, a casual date, or even a hookup.
Since so many people on the app can have different expectations, it often becomes difficult to maintain a healthy boundary for oneself.
Sybil Shiddell, Country Manager India for Gleeden, says: “the basis of dating apps is to show your true self for people to choose and that in itself can lead to some psychological disorders. Swiping left and right almost becomes a game and people get addicted to getting validation for being swiped. This is not intentional but it has a lasting effect as people tend to become more vulnerable and anxious. Also, concepts like the ghost only make this worse. Each of these in some way leads people to be more self-aware.”
Dating apps have widened the playing field, dramatically increasing the chance of more hookups and rejections, too, the latter often negatively influencing people’s mental health. According to the survey by QuackQuack, a dating app, The 41% of people who don’t get a match within the first week of joining the app often feel despondent.
About 34% of daters over the age of 30 have reported feeling anxious and distressed. It usually stems from the pressure of responding to every match or trying too hard to find one. It makes you wonder if dating apps are to blame or social pressure to find the only either settle after a certain age. With some preconceptions so deeply ingrained in our system, over 29% of users have expressed an intense fear of rejection while searching for matches.
QuackQuack further stated that the biggest problem lies in people’s inability to freely talk about or acknowledge mental health issues. Users revealed that they found comfort in close friends, around 34% of tier 2 cities were never able to address their issues due to the taboo around mental health.
Here are 3 common ways dating apps negatively impact mental health:
1. Causes Stress and Anxiety
Sometimes less is more when it comes to dating. With applications, you are given a wide pool of potential candidates that may end up overwhelming you rather than intriguing you. You may feel pressure to respond to every match or visit the site every day. Dating app users are reported to face three times more stress compared to non-users.
2. Poor body image
Online dating is often associated with poor body image and body dysmorphia. Without that personal connection during a first impression, many see dating apps as showing off their best side and believe that matches are only made based on physical attraction. This leads to self-criticism and comparison with others. A 2016 study found that Tinder users reported lower levels of self-esteem, especially focused on dissatisfaction with their physical appearance and shame towards their body image.
3. Low self-esteem
In essence, any dating app is bound to set you up for rejection. It is not possible to match all users. While rejection has always occurred, the world wide web allows for a much higher volume of potential redundancies and even created phenomena such as “ghosting.” Some users may engage in destructive thinking and take each mismatch very personally.
As people spend more and more time online looking for love, they are also more likely to experience depression and anxiety. For dating apps in particular, the simple fact that you’re reviewing other people’s profiles can affect self-esteem and confidence, and make users feel objectified. In one study, users of a dating app reported that they were less satisfied with their appearance and body type than non-users, apparently internalizing perceived evaluations of themselves.
Numerous studies have linked long periods of internet use, including time spent on dating apps, with negative mental health outcomes. Positive interaction with the world outside of your phone is critical to balancing your perspective and sense of self.
