Dating apps have made the difficult task of finding a partner more accessible than ever. Thousands of people are one match away from finding love or having a one-night stand. There may be users who are satisfied with this new way of flirting, but misuse of these technological tools has serious mental health consequences. Choice overloading or ghosting can cause the experience with these applications to be fruitless.
Using a kind of dating catalog and joining it means that users select their partners based on how attractive their profile is and discard those of some people they are more likely to connect with in the physical environment. An endless spiral of disappointment is exhausting for anyone and can lead you to think that you are wasting your time. So why is it so hard to disengage from these apps?
Digital mechanisms to find a partner are exciting at first, since the brain unconsciously detects attractive bodies and faces. Slide or scroll movements cause hyperactivity in the mental reward system and the secretion of dopamine that causes users to spend hours waiting for a message from their crush or planning their next date.
Having that ease of contact with a multitude of potential partners leads to the thought that among them is the ideal person you are looking for. Applications are designed to cushion unsuccessful attempts, which consequently leaves users with a feeling of permanent anguish and stress.
The gamification of the search for love makes an attractive profile take all the attention to the detriment of the people behind it. First impressions are more important in the virtual world, as the tendency to reject people with an avatar that you don't like, who you might give them a chance in face-to-face encounters, increases.
The inexhaustible possibilities to find a partner that these apps offer are addictive and that is why it is very difficult to leave them. However, after a disappointing date it is crucial to allow time to pass before connecting with other people to avoid falling into spite and to regain mental balance. Likewise, you must control your biases to be able to refine the search for what you need. Love, fun and respect are worth more than a pretty face.
