Dating apps can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, registering with a date site or app will introduce you to a potential treasure trove of talent, a seemingly unlimited supply of other singles who are just as eager as you to get into online conversations, with a face-to-face encounter a likely outcome. On the other hand, the online world can be unforgiving. There are unscrupulous site users who post fake profiles so they can dupe gullible people at the other end of their Internet connections.. Here are some of the ways dating apps can damage your self-esteem compiled for you by dating experts from this website.
Pressure to conform
One of the key objectives of dating apps is introducing single people to prospective dates. To attract the required amount of attention, anyone signing up to a site would be advised to pay a lot of attention to the image of themselves they present to those browsing the profiles. In most cases, this will mean being choosy about the photos they upload. But a lot of online daters choose to take this to the next level, touching up photos, or using software that can manipulate their body shapes. People can very quickly develop a complex when bombarded with countless near-perfect examples of singles, with no way of telling how genuine these photos are.
The urge to stay connected is fierce
Dating apps are designed to be as convenient as possible for the site members. This can make it very tempting to flip out your phone and tap onto the app of your choice, just in case you’ve missed any messages since you last checked all of 10 minutes previously. At times when you should be relaxing, especially bedtime, the compulsion remains to keep referring to that tiny screen. In the long-term, this will not only dent your self-esteem, but it will also seriously impair your ability to unwind and focus on enjoyment.
Online connections are never as vivid
When you meet a new partner you can engage in complete conversations, not only exchanging words but keeping an eye on their so-called paralanguage – what they don’t articulate. Are there inflections in their voice that infer a subtly different meaning? What about body language? Are they acting nervously? Do they appear insincere? When your only form of communication is texting or Facetime chats, it’s more difficult to decipher true motivations. Again, this can lead to mistrust and negative thoughts.
Rejection can be hard to take
There’s something about dating sites with their unlimited array of choices, that makes it tougher when things don’t work out. It wouldn’t be unreasonable to feel singled out and somehow even more worthless if you’ve been communicating in an arena surrounded by singles who are forging relationships, only for you to be the odd-person-out. Somehow, a physical ending doesn’t necessarily have the same level of intensity as an online breakup. What is even more damaging to self-esteem is seeing the former object of your desire on the same dating site, searching for singles again.
Not everyone is genuine
Because site users create profiles behind the shield of their web browser, anyone who is so inclined can take considerable liberties. If you happen to be on the receiving end of someone who isn’t who they say they are, it can have a serious impact on self-esteem. The Internet has a word for this form of deception – a catfish – and many have fallen victim to these trolls.
