The Internet has risen in prominence. The proliferation of smartphones and increased financial stability have followed suit. As a result, online dating has become a significant societal phenomenon. Originally designed to connect like-minded individuals, dating apps have since evolved into platforms that serve various purposes.
These dating apps help many people in urban and rural settings find partners, have sex, or get married. Apps like Tinder or Bumble are found on most Gen Z, Millennial, or Boomer phones. At first, people choose their dates online by scrolling left or right through the profiles. They chat on the app and then arrange to meet in person to further their relationship.
Initially designed to find love and friendship, these apps started as tools for connection. They later became a means of finding people to satisfy physical needs. This applies to both genders, as well as bachelors and married people. The urge to physically engage with strangers has lured many Indians. They claim to enjoy the process without any strings attached. This culture is quite famous among Gen-Z as a hook-up culture where polygamy takes center stage in the mindset. Even married people use these dating apps to cheat on their partners. The concepts of the social labyrinth and marriage have come under scrutiny due to the frequent use of dating apps.
Many proponents of individual freedom and gender equality view these apps as empowering. These platforms offer individuals a unique opportunity to choose their partners. They allow people to meet their personal needs without being confined to traditional relationship structures or societal expectations. From a social perspective, it shows a shift towards a more individualistic and progressive lifestyle. This change challenges the conventional notions of monogamy and relationship stability.
The rapid decline in marriage as a system, divorce cases, sexual crimes, and the killing of spouses to pursue another relationship are the after-effects of the social dating apps’ proliferation. Recently, many husbands were dumped by their wives, resulting in criminal offenses. All these things happen as people easily find better or different partners on the apps.
Different scams about nudity, blackmail, and online harassment have emerged, resulting from online dating. The social impact of dating apps has been good in some cases, where people find true love or close friends. It depends on the person’s intentions when using these apps. Anyways, proper counseling and guidelines should be in place to console and help people who are scammed on the apps. Every tech has both good and bad sides. It depends on the user who wants to use it, and how.
The Witty Stride 