Natasha McKeever who is a lecturer in applied ethics and is co-director of the said center feels that people detest using the apps these days since dating virtually has become more like a chore with no fun. It hardly feels like a social activity anymore. She said:
“It becomes tedious, and just feels like you’re doing admin, like you’re not connecting with anyone and you’re just trying to get through people,”
“You see it less like talking to real, individual people and you start seeing it like they’re all just cards in a deck.”
Natasha adds that virtual dating is a disconnected dating. And hence, people do not fear sending offensive and abusive messages because they cannot be tracked and also no one would really bother to spend time in tracking them. Normally, they would not have used foul language when they are trying to find a match in-person:
“I think a lot of people see it like a game, they interact in ways that they would never interact with people in real life, because they’re behind a screen they don’t have to deal with the consequence of shitty behavior.”
Other reasons for user decline on dating apps
There is also a monopolization of the apps. Match Group owns Tinder, Hinge, as well as Plenty of Fish and Match.com. Hence, a monotony was felt by people who used these sites. Luke Brunning, co-director at the Leed University’s CLSR, states that all apps have a similar format and is boring for users:
“We’re presented with an apparent choice, we’re told there’s all these different apps, different social media accounts, different influencers and sponsorships advertising them, but ultimately they’re all owned or work with a few massive companies.”
These companies remain not transparent about their algorithms and practices and hence people tend to move away from these platforms.
But there are exceptions
Though the normal apps for virtual dating are showing fall in users, there are some apps that continue to have a steady user base. These apps are the ones that queer people use. Though the number of users on these apps are not very high, they have almost the same user base as before with no decline.
Badoo is an app that has 48 million users worldwide but more from Brazil and the USA. Its user base has remained steady. Also Scruff is an app that has shown a rise in its users last year. It is an app for men looking out for men as love partners. Oher LGBTQ+ community apps such as Grindr and Squirt has a small drop compared to the one that are marketed for the straight community.
The reason for this is that these people feel unsafe to find a date in person initially. Also, with these apps they can experiment a bit and also understand themselves and what they want. Sophie Goddard, a teacher in applied ethics at Leeds University says:
“Dating apps can also serve as a space to experiment with one’s sexual orientation,”
“For those questioning their sexuality, dating apps may provide a space to experiment with self-presentation outside of heteronormative spaces.”
