How Dating Apps Changed Our Love Lives, for Better or Worse
Posted on March 15, 2021
DISCOVER MAGAZINE – Mar 15 – As described by a scientist at Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction, Internet dating is the one of the most significant events in the evolution of human reproduction in human history. And according to a Stanford study, in 2017, ~40% of heterosexual couples and 60% of same-sex couples in the US met online. Experts warn that although the number of dating apps increases, our ability to have meaningful romantic interactions online might not be as quick to adapt. Dating sites are in the business of keeping users swiping. According to a study by Norwegian University of Science and Technology, most Tinder users are mostly-just-swiping, and only 50% of users have actually met one or more of their matches. But in 2012, researchers from the University of Chicago found that online couples have lower divorce rates than the partners who meet offline. They also found that more anonymous online communications produced greater self-disclosure – and stronger feelings of affection – than face-to face communications, laying the foundation for more enduring relationships.
