Class-Action Lawsuit Accuses Dating Apps of Promoting Addiction

Filed in California, the lawsuit targets Match Group's Tinder and Hinge for their 'compulsive use' features, while the company defends its business model.

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'.