With the privilege of about 97% of the American population owning a cell phone, it makes it possible for one to create personal relationships with strangers on the internet. However, many flaws lie within the positives of online dating and the untrustworthy dating apps that so many people own.

Up to 10 percent of known sex offenders use online dating services to look for victims, according to The Medlin Law Firm in their article ‘Online Dating Sites Are Leading To Crimes & Danger’.Let that sink in.

The first and most terrifying and dangerous part of online dating is that you’ll never know who you’re talking to. The person behind the profile picture might not be who they say they are, and online dating apps are an easy and free way for criminals to talk to and meet up with women and men. Young men and women using these apps give their addresses away to strangers expecting a meet-up and instead are met with murderers, predators, and abductors.

Scary aspects aside, there is also the issue of others having difficulty meeting people outside of dating platforms. Some struggle with social anxiety or don’t have many friends who can hook them up with a date.

From school shootings to the Covid-19 pandemic, the world feels unsettling. Dating apps provide an easy and simple way of finding relationships – romantic or sexual – without having to interact in person.

Younger generations have grown up in a digital world; meeting strangers online is nothing new, and everybody does it. Whether it’s responding to comments on a social media app, or ‘adding’ people who you have mutual friends with on social media. We’ve all grown accustomed to chatting with random and unknown people on the internet, but lately, Gen Z has grown tired of technological connections. People want the real thing; being able to talk face-to-face and having physical companionship.

Society has finally had enough of the dating app culture. From bad dates to relationships that lead to nowhere, people are finally ready to put their phones down and chase after the real thing. This overly popular way of dating has taken a toll on young adults’ mental health, and the boost of confidence gotten from strangers on these apps has simmered down to nothing. Times are once again changing, and real love and meaningful relationships are much more valuable than ever.

Gen Z has had to learn from their and others’ mistakes to realize the dangers and unfulfilling parts of dating online. While these platforms offer unprecedented access to potential partners and opportunities for connection/relations, they also present a host of challenges and risks for young users. From issues of mental health and self-esteem to concerns about privacy, consent, and safety, the impact of dating apps on Gen Z’s romantic and social lives cannot be understated.