Digital dating witnessed an uptick in demand even outside of metro cities since the COVID-19 pandemic began and young adults from small cities and towns began relying on dating sites like Tinder and Bumble to find companionship and love as internet usage boomed. Young Indians from non-metro cities are opting for video calls instead of in-person dating, says a recent report. As per data shared by the company, popular dating site Tinder witnessed a 19 per cent growth in messages exchanged and a 32 per cent increase in the conversation duration from 2020 (when the coronavirus pandemic began). However, using social media apps and dating apps for prolonged hours has been linked to depression as well as secondary trauma.


While online dating has its own charm and it is increasingly becoming popular, it has its perils too. Today, on World Mental Health Day, we spoke to Dr Rajiv Mehta, Senior Consultant Psychiatrist at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi about how to be careful while using dating apps and how can one use these platforms without getting hooked on them.


According to Mehta, pressing the "emotion keys" too early on dating sites is unhealthy. In fact, depending on dating sites or social media apps to get comfort can lead you to hurting your own feelings.


"We should not be totally dependent on dating sites for our own emotions either to use them or to get comfort or to vent our emotions and other things. Talking about all these kinds of sites, we should not be dependent on them to get comfort and get assurances from others. To get a basic idea, we should be like an actor in a movie, where he's not attached to the character and after playing the role they are the same self. Similarly, if we want to be active on these platforms, we should not be involved with emotions," Dr Mehta told ABP Live.


Usage of social media and dating apps can be useful and harmful depending on how one uses them, Dr Mehta noted.


"Rather than treating once we have gotten hooked to it, it is better to prevent oneself from getting hooked to it. Prevention is always better than cure and it is gullible people like us who fall into these traps (of social media and dating sites). It is better to take precautionary steps from the beginning if one wants to stay healthy and safe from the perils of social media," Dr Mehta added.


What women-first dating site Bumble has to say about prioritising mental health and dating online


More than half of single Indians surveyed by Bumble said they would encourage someone they’re dating to be open about their mental health. In fact, more women (57 per cent) than men (51 per cent) surveyed by the dating app claimed they will encourage their partner to be open about their mental health. 


The long-attached stigma associated with seeking help, or fear of being emotionally vulnerable, can hold people back from opening up about their mental health and well-being when dating. It is difficult to navigate conversations with connections found online when dating, and even with established partners -- the ones who see us at our most vulnerable, says women-first dating site Bumble.


While it is not easy to have such discussions while dating, it’s important to reflect on what values matter the most to the user, adds Bumble.