By Pritha Das

We’ve all been there. If you haven’t, count yourself lucky. The world of dating today is dominated by the internet - apps, websites, sliding into DMs - it’s the new normal. Gone are the days of bumping into someone at work or in the supermarket. Romance has been reduced to swipes, super-likes, and matches.

It is addictive
Addiction can be difficult to avoid. You can develop an addiction to anything- social media, a fabulous online writing platform, a dating app. A surge of dopamine is experienced with every match you get, and once you start it becomes difficult to stop.

It lowers self-esteem
In the world of algorithms, you are not always going to feel celebrated. After many watery conversation starters, chats that lead to nowhere, and underwhelming interactions, you feel a little hopeless. You start to feel like a commodity. Should you change your profile pictures? Self-doubt starts to creep in- “maybe the problem is with me…” This will not do. Never forget that YOU are amazing, you are worthy and you are precious. You are more than an app or a dating site can ever portray. Do not let anyone reduce you to a profile.

You start to compromise
Once the erosion of self-esteem begins, you are on a slippery slope. You will (unconsciously) change your goalpost, and perhaps lower your standards. You may go on more dates, but they won’t fulfill you. In fact, they can make you more unhappy.

It can be dangerous
Of course, there are the obvious dangers of meeting a stranger online. We are all wary of the tales of catfishing, fraud, and even assault that can result from online dating. Besides these known dangers, online dating can be harmful simply because you have no context for the person you are meeting. You don’t know their friends, their colleagues or their family.