Share:
Psychology dating app Tinder bad for our self-esteem
Many people today are trying to find a future partner or entertaining flirt via so-called mobile dating apps such as Tinder. Researchers from Texas now found that users of Tinder have a markedly lowered self-esteem. Men are particularly affected.
Researchers at the University of North Texas found that users of the Tinder dating app often experience low self-esteem. The doctors published a press release on the results of their study.
So-called dating apps are widespread. Physicians are now studying the effects of Tinder on the users of this app. They found that these people have a diminished self-esteem. (Image: Rido / fotolia, com) Many people use dating apps
If people simply want to get to know someone today, they often use a so-called commercial mobile dating app on their smartphone. Users can then use this app to contact other people in their immediate vicinity, explain the researchers. The app will allow people to find both long-term acquaintances and short-term flirtations.
The result is quite surprising
Users of the dating app often suffer from lowered self-esteem, with men being particularly affected, the researchers report. This result is surprising compared to previous studies. They have shown that women's self-perceptions are most affected by visual media such as magazines, television and social networks, the researchers explain.
Physicians examine over 1,300 subjects
For the study, the experts surveyed 1,044 female and 273 male students. So the doctors wanted to analyze the effect of Tinder on the psychosocial well-being. In this study, the researchers found that there is a correlation between the use of the dating app and various so-called self-value indicators. These included, for example, satisfaction with one's own body and general self-esteem.
Men had a significantly low self-esteem through Tinder
In terms of self-esteem, men who were Tinder users have significant limitations, says author Professor Jessica Strubel. Previously thinking about the negative impact of such apps on self-esteem, experts suggested that women are more affected by the negative effects.
Tinder relies on the attractiveness of the individual
Tinder users use their smartphone to view the image and data of individuals. Then the person is either classified as attractive and interesting or simply pushed away. This method focuses on the attractiveness of the individual, explain the researchers. Other character attributes are neglected. This superficial classification can openly harm the psychological well-being. Regardless of gender, Tinder users reported a lower level of psychosocial well-being. There were also more indicators of dissatisfaction with one's own body compared to non-users.
Current Tinder system does not work in favor of men
The reported impact on participants was actually relatively the same for both sexes. One exception, however, was male self-esteem. This was more affected than women, say the experts. The diminished male self-esteem can result from the emotionally vulnerable position that many men are exposed to Tinder, the researchers explain. Even for men with relatively high self-esteem, the current Tinder system does not seem to work in their favor.
Tinder provides instant feedback
Many other social media have been reviewed several times, but Tinder is still relatively new. Tinder puts the most focus on physical appearance and instant feedback, scientists say. This can have a negative impact on users if, for example, romantic interest is suddenly ignored or contacts are terminated without explanation.
Effects of Tinder have hardly been studied so far
Especially for young people who feel socially isolated and are concerned about their appearance, this could be a potential reason for involvement in social media. While the psychosocial effects of social media offerings such as Facebook have been widely studied, this is one of the first Tinder studies, say the experts.
Further research is needed
Further efforts need to be made to better understand the immediate and long-term effects of the app. Larger and more diverse groups of users need to be explored. This will allow us to analyze in more detail how users of such apps feel when they are rejected or accepted on Tinder or similar dating sites. (As)