With the rise of the internet, dating apps have become the normalised way to find love in today’s society. In the last 20 years, young adults have moved away from tradition and started to use the internet to build platonic and romantic relationships. However, there are many dangers to this. Here are five red flags to look out for:
1) ‘Do looks matter?’
As with most dating apps, your profile primarily depends on your photos. Dating apps such as Tinder allow us to swipe on an infinite amount of people to match. The quick swipe rights prevent us from looking at people’s bios. Attraction is a big part of dating, but with dating apps, we are encouraged to build a connection with someone wholly based on superficial criteria rather than the more profound attributes of a person, such as their personality. The beauty standard becomes perpetuated as people sway on what they see as desirable because users know they can swipe on ‘more attractive’ people. These apps being so photo-centric is harmful as we know it is so common for people to FaceTune their photos to fit into that box to receive validation to boost their self-esteem.
2) Catfishing!
Sticking to appearance, I think we’ve all come across a catfish. When you meet someone for the first time and realise they heavily edited their pictures or if they have used someone else’s pictures entirely. Social media has made it easy for people to steal anyone’s pictures, especially if they have a public profile. To avoid this, ensure their social media links to their dating profile. When tagged in social media photos, look for anything that connects them to other people.
3) So this is (Transactional) Love?
The constant swiping on dating apps almost dehumanises us. It is like we are shopping for a partner. It is also common for people to use dating apps as hook-up apps. Although this is good for a casual relationship, you may not know another user’s intentions. Have they made it clear whether they want something serious? Due to this uncertainty, small and short connections are more likely to be made than deeper and more productive relationships. It is always best to mention your intentions at the get-go.
4) Ghosting
Because of this lack of creating intimate and solid connections, ghosting is always a risk of downloading these apps. It is so easy to unmatch, block or ignore any conversation that has started. If you are going to download a dating app, you know that you cannot have high expectations because of all the inconsistency that comes with it.
5) Online harassment
Our last red flag of online dating is the harassment that can sometimes occur. For example, the constant messaging from a match when you have not had the time or if you have unmatched with someone who then tries getting a hold of you from other social media. Arguably, when someone is behind the screen, they are more confident about being confrontational. According to Statista, last year, 45% of people who were victims of abuse experienced online harassment. To avoid this, it might be a wise idea not to set your social media up publicly, try not to share too much about your personal life, and use your gut instinct if you think something is off. And do not be afraid to report and block someone who makes you uncomfortable and might be a danger to other users.