The internet has changed the way we date. Can you even call it dating anymore? It’s more like serial swiping and ghosting.
Yes, dating apps are convenient, but you almost have to wonder how people got into relationships before technology. Don’t you think it’s making things more complicated? There are so many negatives to these apps that the positives seem so futile.
Read on to find out more.
Illusion in Choice
Dating apps are popular because they give you a large selection of potential matches, and it doesn’t feel like there’s any pressure. You can simply stop replying – it’s as easy as that.
A simple swipe allows you to connect with people from all walks of life and even from all corners of the world – you can expand your dating pool beyond your immediate group of friends or people you meet out and about.
Yet this muchness may also become oppressive. The paradox of choice suggests that having too many options can lead to anxiety and dissatisfaction. Instead of feeling lucky to have met someone special, we might constantly wonder if there’s someone even better just a swipe away. Having these thoughts prevents us from fully committing to or indeed appreciating the person we’re currently dating, which results in superficial relationships and constant searching.
Don’t get us started on the people in relationships but using dating apps on the side for that reason – they’re almost shopping to see what’s out there.
Dating Anxiety
Despite being fun-filled and somewhat a thrill, dating apps can also cause stress levels to shoot up considerably. It’s all fun and games until you actually have to go on the 300 dates you’ve planned. In comes the ghosting.
These platforms encourage swift judgement based on shallow criteria like appearance or catchy bio lines. Such evaluations may, however, lead to self-esteem issues and anxiety. Men and women suffer from self-confidence issues especially if there’s an expectation of something more. Low sex drive and mood quickly become the norm. Yes, things like the p shot can improve it, but it’s the fundamentals behind dating apps that cause the anxiety.
Effects on Real-Life Interactions
Although they may have made it easier for people to meet, you can’t help but think about how, potentially, this could erode our social skills and confidence when interacting with people offline.
Chatting online is so convenient that we may no longer be interested in approaching people offline or actually putting effort into real-world relationships. This leads to more dependence on virtual relationships, which are often not as deep and genuine as personal experiences. There’s a big worry that the future generation will rely solely on virtual relationships, with there even being a trend developing of non-human virtual partners.
So are dating apps ruining our dating lives? It’s hard to say, but they definitely have some negative effects. They are designed for convenience and create the illusion of infinite possibilities, but they also promote thoughts like, “Is there someone better out there?”. Still, they’re the present and future of dating – there’s no turning back now.