‎the Dating App Killer: The Monica White Story Apple Tv

Statistically, online dating has become the likeliest way couples meet, over any other conventional metric. If someone wants to find a significant other or a date, it’s hard to beat what is Amourfactory used for the practicality of dating apps. They bait people with a better experience behind a paywall, teed up by an intentionally awful basic version. They’re known to sell users’ data, and since roughly half of all the apps are owned by only two companies, they can share personal information across multiple platforms. Mental health professionals recommend specific strategies for healthier app usage.

• Tinder’s boosts cost $3.99 each, while Super Likes, more powerful and noticeable than normal likes, cost $0.99 each.
• According to a 2023 survey by the Pew Research Center, one in 10 partnered adults in the U.S. met their significant other online.
• But when the victims arrived, they were redirected to darker, more isolated streets—where a pack of attackers awaited.

We also couldn’t confirm whether half (52%) of the apps do the bare minimum to keep all your personal information safe, by meeting our Minimum Security Standards. So it’s also not surprising that the same number of apps (52%) earn our bad track record “ding” for a data breach, leak, or hack in the past three years. Like when location data from gay dating app Grindr ended up in data brokers’ hands and was purchased by a Catholic group in the US to monitor members of their clergy. On top of all that, there’s more data that you almost definitely don’t know about like information that’s collected from third-parties, your device, or taken from your photos. About 25% of the apps collect metadata from your content — which is information in the files about when the photo (or video) was taken, where, and what day. But using some of your data to guess more data about you is pretty common — 64% of the apps’ privacy policies mention creating “inferences” about you, usually to target you with more ads or services to get more of your money.

The same Pew Center study also found that 37% of online daters said that other users on a dating site or app continued to send them messages even after they had indicated that they weren’t interested in communicating. Sometimes, the risk goes beyond users who won’t take no for an answer, and this can turn into real-life stalking. In some cases this could include stalkers finding out where you live or work and turning up in person to harass you. You can feel the difference immediately as you create your profile. Match asks you to put in some initial work, though not as much as eharmony or other premium dating services.

Those tidbits might include your religion, race, ethnicity, political views, sexuality, HIV status, weight and even information about your “sexual life experiences” according to the apps’ privacy policies. Most of the dating apps we reviewed now also kindly request your biometric information, if you want “verified status” to show other users you’re really you. The rise of dating apps has transformed how people search for connection, but the emotional cost is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. While these platforms offer convenience and expanded choice, they also introduce cycles of anxiety, comparison, burnout, and self-doubt that can erode mental well-being over time.

Dating apps operate on intermittent reinforcement schedules that activate the same neural pathways as slot machines. Users receive unpredictable rewards in the form of matches, messages, and likes, creating addictive usage patterns. A 2024 study published in Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking found that 78% of frequent users check their apps more than 10 times daily, with each session averaging eight minutes. This constant checking behavior correlates with elevated cortisol levels and disrupted sleep patterns. Unfortunately, we don’t have all the information when it comes to the prevalence of scams on each dating platform. However, while some dating platforms may be trying harder than others to combat online scams, no platform is 100% safe.

Robinson suggests users stay safe by limiting the amount of personal information they share online. She recommends not to post a picture that could be linked to a social media profile, and to avoid mentioning where they live, work, or visit regularly. “If sharing information makes you uncomfortable, you don’t have to continue these interactions,” Robinson says.

A genuine person usually has a broader, consistent digital footprint beyond a single curated profile. Don’t cave into early pressure to move off-platform, and treat this as a potential red flag. A simple face-swapping or voice-cloning tool can be persuasive over a short call. The scammer only needs enough plausibility to move a conversation past doubt. When the victim is already emotionally invested, they ignore red flags more easily. Now, generative AI-powered deepfakes – artificial video or audio designed to imitate a person – are increasingly accessible for scammers to use.

Match

The 50+ demographic reports the highest rates of romance scams on dating platforms, with emotional manipulation tactics causing both financial and psychological harm. Loneliness makes this population particularly vulnerable to exploitation through false emotional connections. Despite Tinder’s tools, actions, and safety features, there have been serious concerns about the platform’s effectiveness in addressing abuse and harassment.

Designed For Covenant Relationships

On January 19, another man was assaulted by three attackers after being accused of meeting a relative instead. His belongings were taken, and he, too, was left shaken and traumatized. By January 23, investigators had identified the ringleader of the group, confirming his involvement in at least one other assault. The group, sometimes concealed behind balaclavas, ensured their identities remained hidden, adding another layer of fear for their victims. The former employee also alleged that illegal activities were not uncommon on the platform. However, the moderation process was often too slow to be effective.

And with a global pandemic still fresh on our minds, it makes sense to be cautious before meeting up with a stranger. Match and Tinder both offer ways to keep your spark alive when apart, if you find a partner responsible enough to agree to a virtual date. Dating apps absolutely know that anyone dedicated to finding love is willing to spend money on it. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a service that doesn’t at least offer an option to pay for premium privileges. That cardiologist I was talking about was sentenced to 158 years in prison. But the reality is, if he were released today, he could get right back on a dating app.

Dating apps create a paradox where users seeking connection often find themselves more isolated than before. The continuous swiping, matching, and unmatching cycles trigger dopamine responses similar to gambling behaviours, yet leave users emotionally exhausted. Research from Stanford University found that 67% of regular dating app users report increased feelings of loneliness despite having more potential connections than previous generations.

Kyiv-native and Berlin-based, Misha worked in big tech and security consulting, before joining Mozilla’s privacy effort. Misha loves investigative storytelling and hates messy privacy policies. Misha is an advocate for stronger and smarter privacy regulations, as well as for safer Internet. Bumble encourages users to do some research on their date, whether that be asking for their last name or for them to get photo verified. Tinder suggests people never leave their drinks or personal items unattended while on a date.

No matter what machine I’m working on, an alarming amount of my personal and professional life revolves around cloud-synced Google Drive files. While Tinder’s premium features can get a little confusing, like a “free” mobile game that demands microtransactions after the fact, the free version is ultimately still complete and serviceable. Match’s reliance on expensive subscriptions is another example of how it’s meant for people more willing to invest in romance, usually skewing toward an older demographic. Robinson ended up staying at a motel in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and offered White $500 to visit him there, she said. She refused, but later, she saw him one more time, spotting him outside that motel as she passed by in her car.

Romance scams cost victims more than $1.3 billion nationwide in 2024, and criminals are now using sophisticated new tactics, including artificial intelligence, to target lonely hearts. “I don’t want anyone to feel that it’s embarrassing to go through domestic violence. Don’t be embarrassed about anything — it happens,” she said. On that note, I have a 16-inch HP Envy with an Intel Core i H CPU and Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU.

Until platforms address these structural issues, users must actively protect their mental health while navigating modern romance through screens and algorithms. Launched in 2009, Grindr quickly became known as the most popular dating platform for the LGBTQ+ community. It has been the cornerstone of sexual diversity in the online dating scene and has reached nearly 15 million monthly active users as of 2025. With any platform that attracts millions of people, scammers see an opportunity for exploiting trust. Released in 2012, Hinge was a dating platform for those serious about long-term relationships. Now around 23 years later, the platform has grown to over 15 million monthly active users.

Be wary if someone urges you to text them or connect with them on a different platform. This might mean that they don’t want their behavior tracked by the app. “Those with mental illnesses like depression may be more susceptible to a predator who might, for example, flatter them profusely and persuade them to start texting or meet in person,” says Valentine. Violent sexual predators are using dating apps to target vulnerable victims.

Always be cautious, trust your gut, and never let your guard down, no matter how enticing the profile photo might be. Because the road to love—or worse—can sometimes take a dark and unexpected turn. They let users evaluate each other through linked social media profiles, pictures, and biographies before agreeing to meet in person. This means that, on some level, users can get to know who they’re meeting before they go on a date. Bumble has not been fully transparent about the extent of scams on its platform, making it difficult to gauge how safe it truly is compared to other dating apps.