Overview

• A Forsa survey commissioned by KKH found that 59% of German singles aged 18–60 experienced emotional exhaustion and frustration from online dating.
• Key emotional impacts include depressive moods (37%), stress (30%), anger (28%), and shame (19%), linked to negative experiences on dating platforms.
• Major causes of distress include ghosting (54%), perceived superficiality or sexual interest (46%), dishonest profiles (44%), and difficulty finding suitable matches (34%).
• Psychologist Isabelle Wenck recommends scaling back app use, managing expectations, and prioritizing real-world social interactions to counteract burnout.
• Despite the widespread use of dating apps, over three-quarters of users express a preference for meeting potential partners in real life.