Online dating lowers self-esteem and increases depression, studies say

By Juliet Marateck, CNN

Updated 0823 GMT (1623 HKT) May 29, 2018

Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds.

Desktop-based online dating is so 2008. Although sites such as Match.com remain popular with older singles, younger users are flocking to mobile-first dating apps. Here's a look at some digital tools for today's lonely hearts.
Photos: Digital dating options
Desktop-based online dating is so 2008. Although sites such as Match.com remain popular with older singles, younger users are flocking to mobile-first dating apps. Here's a look at some digital tools for today's lonely hearts.
Hide Caption
1 of 8
Siren is an app created for women by women that puts the ladies in the driver's seat. Women control who sees their image, who can communicate with them and what type of date to pursue.
Photos: Digital dating options
Siren – Siren is an app created for women by women that puts the ladies in the driver's seat. Women control who sees their image, who can communicate with them and what type of date to pursue.
Hide Caption
2 of 8
Fast-growing app Tinder lets users build profiles by importing photos and interests from their Facebook accounts. The app will then produce nearby matches -- possibly even down your street or across the bar -- fitting your search criteria. Users swipe right if they're interested and left if they want to reject the match. If both parties swipe right, "it's a match!" and they can communicate from there.
Photos: Digital dating options
Tinder – Fast-growing app Tinder lets users build profiles by importing photos and interests from their Facebook accounts. The app will then produce nearby matches -- possibly even down your street or across the bar -- fitting your search criteria. Users swipe right if they're interested and left if they want to reject the match. If both parties swipe right, "it's a match!" and they can communicate from there.
Hide Caption
3 of 8
OkCupid is a free dating site and mobile app that crunches users' answers to a series of questions (Are you messy? Have you ever cheated in a relationship?) to create compatibility scores. It claims that its system is accurate at predicting matches -- as long as users are honest.
Photos: Digital dating options
OkCupid – OkCupid is a free dating site and mobile app that crunches users' answers to a series of questions (Are you messy? Have you ever cheated in a relationship?) to create compatibility scores. It claims that its system is accurate at predicting matches -- as long as users are honest.
Hide Caption
4 of 8
Hinge is a matchmaking app built on finding love with a little help from friends. Users sign in through Facebook and are sent matches each day from their extended social circles.
Photos: Digital dating options
Hinge – Hinge is a matchmaking app built on finding love with a little help from friends. Users sign in through Facebook and are sent matches each day from their extended social circles.
Hide Caption
5 of 8
Match, one of the first and largest dating sites, also has a mobile app. The formula is pretty standard: Users fill out a profile, and the app will send them daily matches that meet their standards. Users also have the ability to browse profiles outside their daily matches.