How One Man's Tinder Addiction Drove Him To Swipe 500 Women A Day

Swiping left on sanity? Along with many social media apps allegedly causing addiction to young minds through their algorithms, are dating apps joining the club to cause a new addition to the users? The story of this British man highlights the potential dangers of excessive online dating app use.

A 27-year-old man named Ed Turner reportedly swiped 500 women a day on Tinder and landed himself in therapy, raising critical questions about the potentially addictive nature of dating apps and the impact they can have on mental well-being. The man alleged that he was not particularly interested in meeting those women, but receiving "likes" on his profiles and swiping used to excite him. 

Man's Dating App Addiction: Swiped 500 Women A Day

The man who is now seeking professional help and therapy for his swiping addiction shared, deriving a sense of excitement similar to an adrenaline rush on receiving "likes" on his profile Interestingly, the man had no desire to meet these women or find a girlfriend, instead, his emotional state and mood depended on responses he would receive from his matches and swipes. 

Turner shared to a British outlet: "If a person didn’t respond to me or didn’t message me in the first place, it would crush me. I would get highs when I was getting a lot of matches with people that I found attractive, but it would always be followed by a crash because it’s not sustainable." 

Turner also candidly added that validation from others was the only thing that kept him going. 

Turner also shared that his addiction to swiping on Tinder also led him to plunge into other dating apps like Hinge and Bumble, and he swiped on every profile he could.

Driven by an addiction to swiping and external validation, Turner confessed to talking to 10 women at a time and spent his days waiting for women's replies. He had no intent to meet these women, and many conversations used to fade out, leaving him feeling dejected. 

Turner shared: "I could never tell you what I was really looking for. It got to the point where I was like, 'Right, I have to ask this person on a date; otherwise, they’re going to stop talking to me.”

Turner also explained, "Since I was swiping right on everyone and fully engulfed in the ‘game,’ I lost all sense of self. Dating apps turned sex, communication, and love into an actual game and distorted reality."

Despite meeting a woman offline and being in a relationship with her, Turner couldn't stop thinking about these apps, and his addiction drove him back to use them despite being in a relationship. Turner said he was not talking to other women while in a relationship, but it made him feel like a "bad partner" and said "the high was gone.". 

It was after Turner's relationship ended that he sought therapy and was diagnosed with depression and borderline personality disorder.

Are Dating Apps Swiping Left On Sanity?

The 2023 Netflix film Kho Gaye Kahaan gives a glimpse of dating app addiction through its character, Imad Ali (played by Siddhant Chaturvedi), who is an "emotionally stunted" stand-up comedian who seeks validation through anonymous connections on dating sites that resonate with youth. Turner's story may seem like an outlier, but it highlights a concerning trend. Dating apps, designed to facilitate connections, can easily become breeding grounds for validation-seeking and compulsive behaviours.

The constant stream of potential matches and the dopamine hit from receiving likes can create an unhealthy dependence, as seen in this case, where the genuine connection takes a backseat to the validation game.

Turner's story also raises concerns about the potential for exploitation of vulnerabilities. Dating apps often rely on superficial swipes and limited information, creating a gamified environment that prioritizes quantity over quality. This can be particularly harmful for individuals struggling with self-esteem issues or loneliness, as their emotional well-being becomes tied to the fleeting validation of online interactions.

Turner seeking therapy serves as a cautionary tale. While dating apps offer opportunities for connection, it's crucial to be mindful of their potential pitfalls. By prioritizing genuine connections, maintaining healthy boundaries, and seeking help when needed, we can ensure that these platforms remain tools for connection, not catalysts for addiction.

However, it is also important to not demonise dating apps altogether. Dating apps can be a valuable tool for meeting new people, and countless success stories exist. The key lies in responsible usage and maintaining a healthy balance.