For our generation, dating apps are central to the dating scene. Some 53% of people under 30 have admitted to using a dating app, primarily Tinder, according to the Pew Research Center. Yet, they offer many challenges to users seeking to find a significant other.
People rely on these apps for quick dating and instant emotional satisfaction. When looking for a partner, it’s important to be loyal and have a deep connection, which you can’t get when looking for hookups on an app.
As stated by the American Academy for Certified Financial Litigators, 12% of relationships formed through dating platforms will fail within three years. These types of statistics can cause mistrust for the users of these dating platforms.
From the start, many of these relationships have a shaky foundation. People often embellish or outright lie on their profiles. For example, an image that someone posts on their accounts could be edited or taken directly from the internet, and as a whole, it is easy for people to misrepresent themselves.
Another concern to think about when using these apps is you never know who you are talking to. There is always the possibility that the person you’re chatting with is a catfish or a scammer.
According to Legaljobs, catfishing incidents have been on a 33% increase from 2018 to 2020. These apps are a common home base for people with bad intentions.
With the number of people who use these platforms, there are bound to be questionable people on these platforms, and users should be aware of the obvious signs such as asking for money, pushing boundaries and refusing to meet in person.
Statistics from the Pew Research Center show that 56% of women under 50 had experienced situations in which they have been sent inappropriate content or were bothered by matches on dating platforms. This highlights how anonymity on these apps can attract individuals with malicious intent.
On the average dating app platform, 19% of its users are minors who found a way around the age requirements. Getting involved with someone within this percentage can lead the average adult user into a risky situation.
Additionally, dating platforms can be overwhelming for many people. Dating apps throw so many profiles at their users, making it harder to determine who is worth talking to.
To have a successful relationship, spending time in person is crucial. Dating apps can make this difficult. Socializing and developing relationships online and through these platforms is hard when communication is limited to texting.
When relying on online conversation, you miss crucial details that cannot be read through a screen. You can’t hear the person’s tone of voice and facial expression or see how you mesh with each other, all of which are important aspects when considering a relationship.
On top of all that, sticking to texting leaves room for misinterpretations and misunderstandings of what the other person means.
Then there is hooking up, which these apps are a breeding ground for. When you just go on dating platforms to find someone to hook up with it ends up limiting the people who are trying to find something real.
Hookup culture is far too common nowadays. A National Library of Medicine survey states that 72% of men and 22% of women on dating platforms are interested in casual relationships.
Being actively involved with hookup culture will lead to missing out on opportunities to meet and connect with someone who could be a potential perfect match.
I know that if I used dating apps, I would always be worried that the person I am talking to only wants to hook up and not pursue something genuine. Knowing this makes me even more hesitant to talk to people through these apps.
I have always been overly cautious with social media and my online presence, so knowing the risks of dating apps only heightens my concerns. I just hope users use dating apps with caution.
