this post was submitted on 14 Feb 2026
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What dating apps are really optimizing. Hint: it isn’t love (theconversation.com)
submitted 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) by Beep@lemmus.org to c/technology@lemmy.world
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In the weeks leading up to Valentine’s Day, dating apps typically see a spike in new users and activity. More profiles are created, more messages sent, more swipes logged.

Dating platforms market themselves as modern technological solutions to loneliness, right at your fingertips. And yet, for many people, the day meant to celebrate romantic connection feels lonelier than ever.

This, rather than a personal failure or the reality of modern romance, is the outcome of how dating apps are designed and of the economic logic that governs them.

These digital tools aren’t simply interfaces that facilitate connection. The ease and expansiveness of online dating have commodified social bonds, eroded meaningful interactions and created a type of dating throw-away culture, encouraging a sense of disposability and distorting decision-making.

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[–] hector@lemmy.today 1 points 1 day ago

We are at the point where connected interests could manipulate things to get people they have a problem with get bad results, bad treatment on dating sites, it has to be said. There is one group in particular that ruthlessly pursues those that disagree with certain foreign policy aspects of the US, that has a lot of clout, and would totally do that, and worse. I wouldn't assume they haven't.

I do know some people suspect that they were put on internet ip blacklists for opposing those interests, there are a few dozen blacklists, supposedly of spammers and the like, people that aren't that end up on there, can't get off, companies want money and more personal information and to beg them and maybe they will take you off, many international.

The US does nothing for us when a foreign company does this? Why? I can think of one reason, their allies put those people on the list for making them look like assholes in other contexts.