Dating apps were already popular before the pandemic, but lockdown resulted in skyrocketing use. According to Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking research, on March 29, 2020, Tinder “broke its record for the most activity in a single day, with more than 3 billion swipes. Between March and May 2020, OkCupid saw a 700% increase in dates, and on Bumble, video calls increased by 70%”.
Usage doesn’t seem to be slowing down, and of course, there are other trends to track beyond engagement. Users have developed a whole culture and a set of social constructs that can encourage certain behaviors, some healthy and some not so much. In fact, even prior to COVID, The Journal of Eating Disorders published research facilitated by the Harvard T.H. School of Public Health. After interviewing 1769 participants, the researchers found that dating app use correlated with unhealthy weight loss behaviors (UWLB) among men and women.
What might be even more surprising is the breakdown between the two groups. The male participants reported higher incidence of:
- Vomiting
- Fasting (not eating for at least a day)
- Diet pill use
- Anabolic steroid use
- Muscle building supplements
The authors concluded that “whether the use of dating apps can be attributed to adverse health outcomes, including UWLBs, remains unclear. The findings from our study, however, continue to fuel speculations that dating app users may be at risk of preventable physical and mental health outcomes.
It’s fair to say that most of us want to represent ourselves to others in the best possible light. There’s nothing wrong with that! But when there is literally a new profession dedicated to dating app profile consultation, we know the stakes are high. Because you can only post so many pics and you get just a certain amount of bio space on any given app, you want to get it right.
However, if you feel you’re compromising your health in order to find a date, a mate or a hookup, you may want to get some support so that you can ensure you’re going about this in a way that promotes your well-being.
Our team at Maze can help you look and feel your best. Whether you’re experiencing symptoms of Low T, such as no energy, low libido or an inability to gain muscle/lose fat or some other sexual issue, contact us to learn more about our services. You can speak with an expert to help you determine how you can be your best, physically and emotionally, inside and out.