Nam spent two hours scrolling through Tinder, chatting with up to ten women at the same time. He says the constant swiping left his emotions feeling numb and left him with no desire to get to know anyone.

Across town, 24‑year‑old Thuy Linh stayed up until 2 a.m. texting matches. When she finally met a date in person, she felt terrified and now blocks anyone who suggests meeting offline.

Their stories echo a wider trend. A 2025 Forbes Health survey reported that 78 % of U.S. dating‑app users and 79 % of Gen Z users experienced dating‑app fatigue, indicating a growing sense of exhaustion among young people.

Research published in BMC Psychology found that dating‑app users show higher levels of depression and stress. The unpredictable nature of each swipe works like an intermittent reward system, encouraging compulsive checking.

Vuong Nguyen Toan Thien, clinical director of the Lumos Psychological Counseling and Therapy Center, advises limiting app sessions to 15–20 minutes, focusing on two or three matches, and taking regular breaks to avoid burnout.

These habits matter because emotional numbness, reduced self‑esteem, and mental fatigue can spill over into real‑life relationships and everyday wellbeing. Recognising the signs early can prevent deeper psychological strain.

The key is to treat dating apps as a tool, not a habit. Setting clear time limits and prioritising genuine connections helps protect mental health and keeps the experience enjoyable rather than exhausting.