By Ugnė Blekaitytė, LRT.lt.

For many, dating apps can feel more like a gambling trip than a path to romance. Disappearing mid-conversation can lead to low self-esteem and automatic reaching for your phone to check messages can signal dependency. Together with psychologist Edvardas Šidlauskas, LRT.lt explored the psychological risks these apps can pose to mental health.

Rasa, a long-time user of Tinder, admits she often scrolls through men’s profiles almost mechanically, judging only by looks and sometimes skipping bios entirely. “I know it reduces my chances of finding a partner, but I still do it,” she says.

Over eight years, she’s had three relationships that started on dating apps – but she also describes the experience as emotionally draining, with unpleasant, dirty messages and constant effort required to keep conversations going.

“You have to be psychologically resilient, because people can write absolutely anything to you. And the nature of the internet is that I can’t avoid seeing it – before opening a message, I don’t know what kind of content awaits me. There’s no real way to shield myself from online psychological abuse,” she says.

Psychologist Edvardas Šidlauskas says emotional exhaustion is a natural experience for many dating app users. Spending large amounts of time on these platforms, he notes, can also intensify symptoms of anxiety and depression – a link supported by scientific research.

Read more: LRT.LT