Overview

• A class-action lawsuit accuses Tinder, Hinge, and other Match Group dating apps of using addictive, game-like features to encourage compulsive use.
• The lawsuit, filed in the Northern District of California, claims these apps prioritize profit over meaningful relationships, leading to a 'perpetual pay-to-play loop'.
• Experts argue that the constant flow of matches and messages activates dopamine release, creating a cycle of anticipation and validation similar to gambling.
• Research suggests that couples who meet online may have less satisfying and stable marriages, with the 'paradox of choice' leading to serial dating.
• Match Group defends its business model, stating its goal is to facilitate real dates and dismisses the lawsuit as having 'zero merit'.