TY - JOUR
T1 - 99 + matches but a spark ain’t one: Adverse psychological effects of excessive swiping on dating apps
AU - Thomas, Marina Frederike
AU - Binder, Alice
AU - Stevic, Anja
AU - Matthes, Jörg
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Authors
PY - 2023/3
Y1 - 2023/3
N2 - Studies showed adverse experiences related to the use of dating applications such as Tinder. However, it remains unclear by which mechanism and under which conditions dating app use has undesired effects. As a mechanism, we investigated excessive swiping, operationalized as youth's mental preoccupation with profile browsing and swiping compulsivity. As moderators, we investigated swiping in assessment (i.e., critically evaluating profiles), and locomotion (i.e., taking intuitive gut decisions) modes. To this end, we surveyed a quota-sample of 464 transition age dating app users (16–25 years old). Moderated mediation analyses showed that dating app use was associated with excessive swiping, which was in turn linked to a) upward social comparison, b) fear of being single, and c) partner choice overload. In conclusion, frequent dating app use was related to undesired outcomes only when it was related to excessive swiping. Neither assessment, nor locomotion mode moderated these relationships; thus, excessive swiping is detrimental for young dating app users’ well-being, no matter how they swipe.
AB - Studies showed adverse experiences related to the use of dating applications such as Tinder. However, it remains unclear by which mechanism and under which conditions dating app use has undesired effects. As a mechanism, we investigated excessive swiping, operationalized as youth's mental preoccupation with profile browsing and swiping compulsivity. As moderators, we investigated swiping in assessment (i.e., critically evaluating profiles), and locomotion (i.e., taking intuitive gut decisions) modes. To this end, we surveyed a quota-sample of 464 transition age dating app users (16–25 years old). Moderated mediation analyses showed that dating app use was associated with excessive swiping, which was in turn linked to a) upward social comparison, b) fear of being single, and c) partner choice overload. In conclusion, frequent dating app use was related to undesired outcomes only when it was related to excessive swiping. Neither assessment, nor locomotion mode moderated these relationships; thus, excessive swiping is detrimental for young dating app users’ well-being, no matter how they swipe.
KW - Online dating
KW - Passive social media use
KW - Problematic smartphone use
KW - Profile browsing
KW - Romantic decision making
KW - Tinder addiction
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85147330001&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.tele.2023.101949
DO - 10.1016/j.tele.2023.101949
M3 - Article
VL - 78
JO - Telematics and Informatics: An Interdisciplinary Journal on the Social Impacts of New Technologies
JF - Telematics and Informatics: An Interdisciplinary Journal on the Social Impacts of New Technologies
SN - 0736-5853
M1 - 101949
ER -