The latest dating app habit is called “ego scrolling.” It's where you’re using dating apps not so much to fine “the one,” but to feel good about yourself. It’s all about the rush of getting compliments from people. According to Katie Dissanayake, CEO of the dating app After, ego-scrolling is all about getting that self-esteem boost from matches, without the emotional investment. Basically, it’s a way to feel desirable without the risk of rejection. “It’s almost like window shopping for love without the intention to buy,” she says.
So why is it happening? Katie believes that the surge in ego-scrolling is fueled by widespread loneliness and an overall feeling of stress and sadness among young adults.
“Dating apps have become almost like an emotional pacifier,” she says. “If you're bored, anxious or feeling invisible, getting a match, especially from someone you find really attractive, feels almost like a mini serotonin shot. And more often than not, that becomes the goal.”