Allegations of Deliberately Designed Addiction
A recent lawsuit filed against Match Group, the company behind popular dating apps like Tinder and Hinge, accuses the platform of intentionally incorporating addictive features. The proposed class-action lawsuit suggests that these features foster a “compulsive” usage pattern among users, driving them into a never-ending cycle of engagement without fulfilling their quest for a date.
Monetizing Love at the Expense of Users
The lawsuit, lodged on Valentine’s Day in a federal court in California, alleges that Match Group crafts its dating platforms with game-like elements to keep users hooked, ultimately prioritizing profits over the promised goal of facilitating meaningful relationships. By luring users with alluring special features that pledge romantic connections, Match allegedly transforms them into “addicts” who end up shelling out exorbitant sums for subscriptions.
“Match’s business model thrives on monopolizing users’ attention through fostering dating app addiction, compelling them to purchase costly subscriptions and engage endlessly,” the lawsuit claims. Six app users initiated the legal action, pushing for class action status, as they aim to hold Match Group accountable for their purportedly manipulative practices.
Concerns Echoing a Broader Tech Industry Issue
While the lawsuit primarily focuses on adult users, it echoes broader concerns surrounding tech companies’ responsibility in curbing addictive features that may harm users’ mental well-being. Meta Platforms, the parent company of social media giants Facebook and Instagram, is also under legal scrutiny for allegedly fostering addiction among young users, contributing to a mental health crisis.
According to the lawsuit against Match Group, the dating apps employ tactics that exploit dopamine responses in users, trapping them in a quest for elusive psychological rewards. The lawsuit contends that Match intentionally designs these features to keep users engaged in a cycle akin to gambling, where the promised emotional gratification remains just out of reach.