Tinder, Hinge lawsuit raises question: Can dating apps be considered addictive?
A lawsuit filed on Valentine's Day claims that several popular dating apps are "psychologically manipulative" and " addictive ," encouraging "compulsive" use by people on the platforms. The claim is aimed at Match Group , which owns a variety of online dating platforms including Tinder, Hinge, The League, Match and Plenty Of Fish. Depending on the outcome, the lawsuit could have wide-reaching implications, as an estimated 3 in 10 U.S. adults report having used a dating app at some point, according to the Pew Research Center . But can a dating app really be addictive? Related: Is there actually Science behind 'dopamine fasting'? Addiction to a behavior, rather than a substance Among psychologists, terms like "addictive" can be controversial when applied to non-substances, such as video games or social media. Gambling disorder is the only non-substance addiction currently recognized by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of ...