Apps are Millennials’ Least Favourite Dating Method

A new study, issued by the BBC, has revealed that 16-34 year olds identify dating apps as their least favourite way to meet someone.

37% of the 2,066 people who responded to the survey said that dating apps were their least favourite method to date. However, over a quarter of the young adults said that they have formed a long term relationship or a marriage from smartphone dating.

Just under a half of the participants have used a dating app at some point, and a third of those said that it was because they were too shy to approach people in person.

Almost a third of people said they expected to find a casual relationship or a hookup on dating apps.

The survey suggests that although people tend to not enjoy the dating app experience, they keep going back.

Relationship psychologist Madeleine Mason Roantree told the BBC: “When we match it’s almost like a little dopamine hit – it lights up the pleasure sensor in our brain so it can be quite addictive.”

She also explained that online dating could open up issues surrounding mental health, specifically depression and anxiety.

A 2017 study showed that Tinder can have negative effects on its users’ mental health and self-esteem.

Facebook and Instagram are beginning to roll out ‘Time Well Spent’ aids to limit an individual’s activity on the apps. This is seen as a positive move to help maintain mental health. Some of the bigger dating apps could think about similar features.

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