The effect of dating apps on the brain – 02/22/2023 – Equilibrium

We all (or almost all) want to fall in love, right? And dating apps are there to help us out.

In the new BBC Three series Planet Sex, model Cara Delevingne investigated what happens to our brains when we see images of people we find attractive.

In one of the episodes, she herself was examined.

His brain was monitored as he viewed images of people he recognized, from acquaintances he found attractive to people with whom he had long-term relationships.

Cara’s brain functions lit up more when images of her serious past loves came up, and the results, said Dr. Bianca Acevedo, who conducted his brain scan, proves that “love is a really strong impulse.”

“Even when the couple’s relationship isn’t great, there’s still a strong connection – you see intense reward activity in their brains.”

“Love is basically a drug,” agreed Cara.

It’s no surprise that dating apps, a technology that helps us find love, are so popular.

In 2022, the year in which the pioneer Tinder celebrated 10 years of existence, 323 million people around the world were using this and other similar apps, according to a recent study.

And it is that they are “incredibly addictive”, according to psychologist and cultural consultant Zoe Mallett.

“They give you a chance to meet people you might not otherwise have met,” he says, but he adds that it’s not all positive things.

While they can help you find love since there’s so much screen time involved, “they can change the way you behave when you meet people in real life,” she says.

They are based on intermittent reinforcement, something Mallett defines as the “delivery of rewards at irregular intervals”.

“Scientists relate this to gambling. It’s the addictive feeling of not always winning”, he details.

That’s because if you find someone you’re attracted to and choose that person, there’s no guarantee that the same thing will happen to that person, so when you match, the payoff seems bigger.

“Uncertainty causes you to invest more,” she explains, noting that even if you don’t get any matches, you’ll want to “come back for more.”

How do we feel when using them?

“It has to do with the levels of dopamine in your brain”, says the psychologist.

Described in a University College London study as a chemical messenger that helps us feel pleasure, dopamine is released in your brain when you “match” on a dating app, that is, when you find a partner who also likes you.

“It’s the same chemical released when you have sex or gain something. It can make you feel relaxed and excited,” says Mallett.

“You’re happy when you use it, but the dopamine rush is short-lived, you’re constantly wanting to feel it again”

“To engage the user, dating apps are designed to be exciting and fun,” he says.

Similar to how we use social media, dating service designers want to keep you coming back.

“Both target your brain’s muscle memory, so it’s the first thing you look for when you pick up your phone. Your brain will naturally go to a place it knows can make you feel good.”

And just like social media, dating apps are carefully designed to “erase you from the rest of the world”.

“They want you to be ‘wearing glasses’ when using the app,” he says.

Using carefully designed colors, fonts and language, they also focus on your emotional side.

“When you see someone you like on an app, you can start to imagine a future with that person. It’s not just about how they look, it’s also about the narrative they can create,” he adds.

Love?

Humans are constantly looking for validation, says Mallett, and that’s what dating apps appeal to too.

“When you find a match on a dating app, for a brief second, all your doubts can disappear.”

Also, the feeling of “unknown” keeps users hooked. “You never know who’s going to be next and that’s really exciting.”

But can this emotion turn into love?

According to a YouGov study, 16% of global consumers aged 25-34 met their partner through an app.

For the psychologist, winning that award is the result of a mixture of “luck” and “effort”.

“If you spend a lot of time looking for love on a dating app, you’re more likely to find someone you like.

“But it’s also a matter of luck. You might not like anyone in the area where you live.”

Face to face

Social media and dating apps have also changed the way we communicate in real life, argues Mallett.

“Our dependence on technology has made some people find it difficult to have a face-to-face conversation,” she says.

“Now people might think they don’t need to expose themselves or approach people they see around if they can just go home and use the app, which is a lot less intimidating.”

So is it good to use them?

“Everything has good and bad parts”, considers Zoe. “If you want to get to know your partner, they’re a great way to find out what you may or may not want from them.”

“They can also boost your confidence, but I wouldn’t recommend relying on them as your only way to meet people.”

Plus, she says, the way we use dating apps is starting to change.

“Apps like Bumble and Thursday have started to host in-person events, which is interesting because it takes users out of the app and into a real-life environment.”

“(The creators of) apps are realizing that we still want to meet people in real life,” says Zoe.

But our obsession with them must not wane.

“Humans naturally like things that make our lives easier.

“Dating apps help us, they make our lives easier. They are a solution. It’s hard to meet people, so it’s no surprise that we like them so much.”