this post was submitted on 14 Feb 2026
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What dating apps are really optimizing. Hint: it isn’t love (theconversation.com)
submitted 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) by Beep@lemmus.org to c/technology@lemmy.world
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In the weeks leading up to Valentine’s Day, dating apps typically see a spike in new users and activity. More profiles are created, more messages sent, more swipes logged.

Dating platforms market themselves as modern technological solutions to loneliness, right at your fingertips. And yet, for many people, the day meant to celebrate romantic connection feels lonelier than ever.

This, rather than a personal failure or the reality of modern romance, is the outcome of how dating apps are designed and of the economic logic that governs them.

These digital tools aren’t simply interfaces that facilitate connection. The ease and expansiveness of online dating have commodified social bonds, eroded meaningful interactions and created a type of dating throw-away culture, encouraging a sense of disposability and distorting decision-making.

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[–] Randelung@lemmy.world 7 points 19 hours ago

I fell for Parship. Forgot to cancel after family pushed me to subscribe just for a year.

When I started, I didn't know what a match unlock was. On Tinder, if you match, you get to chat. On Parship you have to UNLOCK the match first, and you only have a limited amount of unlocks before you have to buy more. So the app that claims to be designed to pair you up makes you HESITANT to actually talk to anyone! It's like power-up potions in video games!

We all know they're evil and predatory, but the extent is worse than you think.