Dating apps are causing anxiety, according to experts in love
At our popular alumni event, The Future of Love
People who use online dating apps in search of a partner become shallower in their outlook on life and more anxious about their appearance, according to a panel of experts taking part in a University of Sydney Business School Alumni event held in the lead up to Valentine鈥檚 Day.
The event, titled 鈥楾he Future of Love鈥�, was the first in a series of alumni events scheduled for 2018.
The CEO of dating sites RSVP and Oasis, Dave Heysen, told his audience that dating apps have had a positive impact but he added, 鈥渢he negatives are, people are becoming a lot more shallow and quick to make a decision鈥�.
鈥淚f you look at the advent of apps like Tinder and Bumble, and even RSVP and Oasis to some extent, most people who use them now use them on their phone, they鈥檝e got limited time, so they鈥檝e actually got to make a quick decision on whether to pursue that person or not,鈥� said Mr Heyson. 鈥淭hat doesn鈥檛 give people a real chance to express themselves.鈥�
He was joined on the panel by Clinical Psychologist and NHMRC Career Development Fellow at the Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney聽, and聽, the Sales and Retail Operations Manager of Harlequin, which specialises in romance books targeting women.
鈥淧eople who rely on Tinder and really focus on their profiles end up having a lot more anxiety and concerns about their appearance,鈥� said Professor Guastella, who has conducted research into social anxiety.
On the positive side, the panellists agreed that dating apps allow people to meet others outside their usual social circles, communicate and learn a lot more about each other before going on a date, and find a niche dating app to suit their specific need.
鈥淎s online dating becomes so mainstream, if you鈥檙e not doing it, well why aren鈥檛 you?鈥� asked Mr Heysen.