Study: Online Dating Lowers Self-esteem

CNN - May 29 - Dating apps are only growing in popularity, with no sign of slowing. The stigma of finding a mate online is lessening. But rejection is real, even online. Being turned down stimulates the same part of the brain that processes physical pain, according to a 2011 study from the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Basically, our brains can't tell the difference between a broken heart and a broken bone. Online dating gives users many more opportunities to feel rejected faster. 1,300 (mostly) college-age students were asked about their Tinder use, body image and self-esteem. The study found that men and women who use the app appear to have lower self-esteem than those who don't. In general, Tinder users reported less satisfaction with their bodies and looks than non-users, study author Jessica Strübel wrote.