BREAKING: Turns out dating apps are terrible for you. I'll give you a moment now to process this shocking news 👇
That's right — apps that are designed to keep you in an endless cycle of rejection, without ever having to leave the comfort of your own home, aren't that great for your mental well-being.
Some nerdy science stuff is ahead, so bear with me:
A UK study by eHarmony and the Imperial College of Business (take that as you will) found that dating apps can create a "neurochemical dependence" similar to gambling, messing with the brain's reward pathways — triggering an obsessive, compulsive urge to keep swiping, even after users get matches.
Hormone health expert Mike Kocsis explained that this emotional rollercoaster stems from a "reinforcement schedule," which unfolds in three stages:
The Anticipation Phase
The Perception Phase
The Reward Delivery
The app triggers a dopamine rush: Anticipation when opening it, perception when notifications roll in, and the biggest hit during a match. The unpredictability keeps users hooked, constantly chasing the next "fix."
Dating apps can actually lower your sex drive by disrupting hormone levels. Matches temporarily boost testosterone, but ghosting or rejection can cause sharp drops (10-25%), leading to fatigue and reduced libido.
Even waiting for replies triggers stress and anxiety, spiking cortisol and throwing off your hormonal balance.
Perhaps this is why more than 700,000 users in the UK alone have ditched dating apps, but said apps are still predicted to account for 50% of new romantic relationships in Mother England by 2035.
Just for extra credit, an Austrian study also discovered that dating apps might just be sabotaging the search for love. With an endless parade of options at their fingertips, users somehow manage to become pickier and set their expectations so high, they might as well be waiting for a unicorn.
Long story short ... get off the apps.
P.S. Now check out our latest video 👇
