The Washington Post (6/7, Chesler) reported that a new studyby research firm SSRS found that “some 95.6 million people 18 and over who have used dating websites or apps,” and many are not alone in seeing their “mood shift downward the longer” they spend online. Some experts “say online dating can generate mental health hazards.” One therapist warned that “users can become addicted to apps and to the dopamine rush they get when someone they’re interested in responds to them.” He said, “People are constantly looking for validation and a dopamine and serotonin rush that doesn’t happen, and if it does happen, it’s fleeting and makes them want to go back for more.” Another therapist said the apps can be particularly negative for young people, who lack the emotional development to put rejection in context. She said, “Apps like that can really make people feel ugly and unwanted.” Overall, experts encourage breaks from social media and dating apps to curb addictive tendencies.
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