Decision-Making on Dating Apps: Is Swiping More Less and Swiping Right Wrong?

Experiments demonstrated adverse effects of evaluating high numbers of dating app profiles on decision-making. Yet few investigated the effects of choice abundance on self-esteem and anxieties, and the influence of decision-making remains unexplored. To test the main and joint effects of number of profiles and decision mode on self-esteem, mate value, fear of being single, and perceived choice overload, we conducted a 3 (number of profiles: low; medium; high) × 3 (decision mode: control; locomotion mode; assessment mode) between-subject factorial experiment in 401 undergraduates (Mage = 22.10, SDage = 3.70). Evaluating a higher number of profiles decreased acceptance rates (Mhigh = 17.14%, SDhigh = 13.51%; Mmedium = 19.53%, SDmedium = 13.67%; Mlow = 24.09%, SDlow = 17.11%) but had no self-devaluing effect. However, decision mode did: Those deciding intuitively in locomotion mode reported a lower self-esteem and mate value than controls or those taking defensible decisions in assessment mode. Swiping in locomotion mode seems to come at the cost of unfavorable self-evaluations (even in partnered individuals) and should be further examined. Evaluating higher numbers of profiles increased perceived partner choice overload, and overload started even earlier in locomotion mode than in assessment mode or control condition. Swiping on dating apps can have hidden psychological costs, depending on how one makes decisions.