Is it time to have that talk with whatever dating app you are using? Is it time to say, "I've realized I don't have the same feelings anymore, so it's time for us to go our separate ways? Either way, dating app usage has been declining since So, the big question is whether it's time to break up with dating apps. Take a wild guess as to who of the two debaters took which side.
Avgitidis argued that dating apps present people with the "paradox of choice": The seemingly unlimited numbers of matches leads them to make poor decisions. Moreover, "people become disposable [because of dating apps]," she asserted.
She warned that a big part of dating on apps is figuring out the algorithms rather than authentic connecting. In her counterpoints, Hobley emphasized that dating apps have led to many relationship pairings and read some of the engagement and marriage notes that have resulted from dating app connections. She also asked how many in the audience started a relationship because of a dating app or know someone who has, which elicited a lot of positive "wooooos.
She emphasized the convenience of dating apps. People spending more time alone, given the prevalence of remote work, makes it harder to meet others without a dating app. Finally, Hobley presented the dating-is-hard-in-general-don't blame-apps argument. Putting forth false images, focusing on the wrong things, and being creepy have long been part of any type of dating. Tinder, she noted, has been trying to put in safeguards to mitigate such things. There was no clear winning argument, and it is not likely that the world is going to abandon all dating apps, despite user frustration and horror stories.
Dating apps are typically businesses trying to make money, although Hobley did emphasize that customers are more likely to use products that work. So where does that leave you? If you are currently seeing a dating app or are polyamorous with multiple ones, should you break up with them? Well, surprise, surprise, as with any relationship, the answer isn't one-size-fits all.
