The level of satisfaction with online dating apps varies based on individual preferences

Tinder, the most popular dating app in the world, has around 75 million active users per month. However, a recent study by Stanford Medicine researchers and collaborators discovered that many users are not actually using the app for dating purposes, which may not come as a surprise to some users.

In a survey of over a thousand Tinder users, half of the participants stated that they were not interested in meeting offline, and nearly two-thirds reported being already married or in a relationship.

The study, published in the journal Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking on June 23, revealed that users’ motivations for using the app varied significantly, influencing their satisfaction with the app and the dates they encountered. Online dating, for many, serves as a form of entertainment, distraction, and a boost to self-esteem, similar to social media platforms. However, it also presents similar challenges, as pointed out by Elias Aboujaoude, MD, clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and co-author of the study.

Diverse Motivations

Despite the widespread use of online dating apps, research exploring users’ experiences with these apps remains limited. “I was surprised by the lack of data on people’s overall satisfaction with online dating and the quality of the offline dates it can lead to,” Aboujaoude stated.

To gain insights into the Tinder experience, the researchers surveyed 1,387 English-speaking users between the ages of 17 and 84. The questionnaire covered various aspects, such as motivations for using the app, number of matches and offline dates, relationship status, selectiveness in choosing partners, and psychological measures like impulsivity, depression, loneliness, and self-esteem. The data collected were self-reported. Participants were also asked to rate their overall satisfaction with the app and their satisfaction with offline dates.

“The surprising part is that a significant percentage, approximately half, were not using the app to find dates. This raises the question of why someone would invest so much time in a dating app if they are not interested in finding a date,” Aboujaoude noted. In addition to seeking committed or non-committed partners, numerous users reported using the app for social connectedness, entertainment, distraction, and emotional regulation.

“We refer to them as dating apps, but they clearly serve purposes beyond dating,” Aboujaoude observed.

Satisfaction Predictors

On average, participants rated their overall satisfaction with Tinder as 2.39 on a 4-point scale, while offline dates received an average rating of 3.05 on a 5-point scale.

The researchers developed a machine learning model to determine which variables strongly predicted satisfaction with the app. The findings revealed that using the app for its intended purpose of finding romantic partners or socializing, as well as having more matches, had the strongest positive influence on satisfaction. Conversely, using Tinder as a coping mechanism for negative emotions, exhibiting an avoidant attachment style, and possessing psychological qualities such as impulsivity and depressive mood had the strongest negative influence on satisfaction.

These results indicate that for individuals facing mental health challenges, online dating may not be an effective coping mechanism. Aboujaoude drew parallels to the impact of social media use on conditions like depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem, emphasizing the importance of addressing underlying emotional issues alongside unhealthy coping mechanisms. If there seems to be an actual mental health condition, such as depression, ADHD, or anxiety, professional diagnosis and treatment should not be overlooked.

Age emerged as the strongest predictor of higher satisfaction with offline dates arranged through Tinder. Older individuals, who did not grow up with dating apps, tend to approach them with a more cautious mindset and exhibit more selectiveness in their matches.

“This finding suggests that the average user can learn from it and potentially have a more satisfying online dating experience,” Aboujaoude advised.

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