Love-seeking singles often attest to a dating scene riddled with drama and disappointment.

Experts offer them a glimpse of the tough reality facing Australians seeking their ideal relationship online in the wake of a Valentine’s Day spent alone.

Users on the likes of Hinge, Tinder and Bumble often become trapped into an endless cycle of use, says says author and academic Lisa Portolan who holds a doctorate on dating apps and intimacy.

“Predominantly these dating apps are where people are meeting each other but they’re doing it in a very episodic or cyclical sort of way,” she told AAP.

“They might go on for periods of time and then not find what they’re looking due to being bored or whatever it might be.

“It might be two weeks, it could be six months, and then eventually they circle back. So it’s a bit episodic alongside that.”

In an ironic twist, Generation Z – those born after 1996 – are turning to more traditional ways of finding love.

“I mean, dating apps have really struggled to engage with Gen Z,” Dr Portolan said.

“A lot of Gen Z do meet organically … I think that the kinds of synthetic experience of dating apps has less appealed to Gen Z.”

Ryan Anderson from Monash University’s School of Psychological Sciences said shunning apps can often lead to “more authentic, intentional dating”, regardless of age.

“I’ve noticed that the landscape seems to be shifting,” he said.

“People are embracing low-cost, in-person events and ‘future-proofing’ conversations by discussing finances and long-term goals early on,” he said.

“It’s probably fairly safe to say that more people are romantically interacting online than ever before (but) there’s a noticeable shift toward transparency and meaningful connection over the casual swipe culture.”

Holly Hales
(Australian Associated Press)