Dating Apps May Make it Easier to Leave Failing Relationships

Critics of the online dating industry have often accused apps like Tinder of making it harder for users to maintain a long-term relationship. However, some experts argue that this is the wrong conclusion to draw.

Writing for Business Insider, Shana Lebowitz outlines an article first published in The Atlantic which looks at how dating has changed in the five years since Tinder’s initial launch.

One of the key takeaways was that psychologist Eli Finkel believes apps make it easier for people to realise they are unhappy with their current relationship.

Finkel said to The Atlantic: “You can just tinker around, just for a sort of a goof; swipe a little just ’cause it’s fun and playful. And then it’s like, oh — [suddenly] you’re on a date.”

He also insisted that if someone is in a fulfilling relationship they will not be distracted by potential partners, even if they can be easily accessed through an app.

Match.com’s Chief Scientific Advisor Helen Fisher reiterated that the majority of singles online are looking for a serious relationship, but are cautious about settling down too quickly.

She believes this mindset will ultimately lead to more successful marriages.

Early in 2018, Fisher appeared on an Intelligence Squared debate panel, arguing against the motion that dating apps have killed romance.

Read more here.