Are dating apps bad for our mental health?

Dating apps have taken the world by storm, but has the trend for swiping right or left to like or reject potential matches contributed to many people's unhappiness and low self-esteem?
Following the end of her last relationship, Kirsty Finlayson, 28, did what many people do - she turned to dating apps to find love.
But the incessant swiping and the stream of small-talk conversations that soon fizzle out left her feeling dejected.
"Dating apps have definitely increased my anxiety," admits Kirsty, a solicitor who lives in London.
"It fuels the idea of a disposable society where people can match, date once, and not give it much effort," she says.
"I find it difficult to distinguish between those who are just using it as a way of passing time on their commute or ego-boosting and those who actually are looking for something serious”

She spends about 30 minutes a day on the app, but admits it's "time that I could spend doing something I enjoy which is better for my mental health".
Despite the huge popularity of dating apps - and the millions of success stories worldwide - many users report that some apps make them feel low and experience self doubt.

Ben Reilly wrote:I think that for the most part, they're no good, though I've never used anything like eHarmony, which claims to be great at picking people who will click (pun intended!).

Old-school meeting IRL is best, in my opinion.

eddie wrote:

Ben Reilly wrote:I think that for the most part, they're no good, though I've never used anything like eHarmony, which claims to be great at picking people who will click (pun intended!).

Old-school meeting IRL is best, in my opinion.

Yeah I remember you telling me that you used one once and it didn’t go well.
If people used them properly, then I’d have no problem, but it’s the fact a lot of people use them to get a free fuck.

eddie wrote:Wow. That’s the point I was trying to make!

“An environment where romance is the goal”

That’s like a “singles bar” where everyone is just there looking for some meat.
A meat market.

It’s just sad, really, and makes a mockery of the genuine people who use these apps as a way to form friendships.

And I want to add, for fairness sake, it isn’t just men who go to these “meat markets”, women are just as bad!

Syl wrote:I suppose if you liked single bars and 18 to 30 type holidays online dating sites would suit.

All the above would be like visiting hell to me, and I think if a random pervert sent  me a 'dick pick' I would be sick.

I have  never been a wham, bam, thank you man sort of a person, I like the old fashioned idea of actually seeing someone and wanting to get to know the person slowly.

I can imagine that dating sites could be very bad for ones mental health. People are judged on looks alone, and probably often just used and then discarded, that must be depressing.

Ben Reilly wrote:

eddie wrote:Wow. That’s the point I was trying to make!

“An environment where romance is the goal”

That’s like a “singles bar” where everyone is just there looking for some meat.
A meat market.

It’s just sad, really, and makes a mockery of the genuine people who use these apps as a way to form friendships.

And I want to add, for fairness sake, it isn’t just men who go to these “meat markets”, women are just as bad!

Yeah, I was just thinking about how in my 20s, I was equally disgusted by the singles bar scene. I actually told a friend at the time I just saw them as "meat markets."

Maddog wrote:

Ben Reilly wrote:

eddie wrote:Wow. That’s the point I was trying to make!

“An environment where romance is the goal”

That’s like a “singles bar” where everyone is just there looking for some meat.
A meat market.

It’s just sad, really, and makes a mockery of the genuine people who use these apps as a way to form friendships.

And I want to add, for fairness sake, it isn’t just men who go to these “meat markets”, women are just as bad!

Yeah, I was just thinking about how in my 20s, I was equally disgusted by the singles bar scene. I actually told a friend at the time I just saw them as "meat markets."

Really? I had a blast. I hope a few of the ladies did too.

eddie wrote:

Maddog wrote:

Really? I had a blast. I hope a few of the ladies did too.

Meet the woman of your dreams, did you?

Maddog wrote:

eddie wrote:

Maddog wrote:

Really? I had a blast. I hope a few of the ladies did too.

Meet the woman of your dreams, did you?

Maybe. But I may not have been smart enough to know it.  

But I had some fun. Seeing good bands, dancing with some pretty girls, doing more than dancing with far too many also.  

When I was young and crazy, I acted young crazy. Maybe I still do.  

Anyway, upon further reflection, I did meet a wife at a country bar. Not sure i would call that a singles bar, although most of the folks there were probably single.  

Not sure she was the woman of my dreams. Pretty sure I turned out to not be the man of hers.

Ben Reilly wrote:

Maddog wrote:

Maybe. But I may not have been smart enough to know it.  

But I had some fun. Seeing good bands, dancing with some pretty girls, doing more than dancing with far too many also.  

When I was young and crazy, I acted young crazy. Maybe I still do.  

Anyway, upon further reflection, I did meet a wife at a country bar. Not sure i would call that a singles bar, although most of the folks there were probably single.  

Not sure she was the woman of my dreams. Pretty sure I turned out to not be the man of hers.

Shit happens!