New Study Challenges Myth That Dating Apps Destroy Commitment

New research suggests that seeing more potential matches on dating apps may strengthen rather than weaken people’s willingness to commit to a chosen partner. The findings challenge the long-standing assumption that too many romantic options inevitably lead to indecision and reluctance to settle down.

The study, published in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, examined how the size of a dating pool influences users’ motivation to pursue relationships. Instead of causing choice overload, a larger dating pool appeared to help participants identify matches they perceived as more compatible.

For years, psychologists have argued that an abundance of dating options can make users overly selective and dissatisfied. This consumer-like approach to online dating may encourage people to treat profiles like products while constantly worrying that an even better match could appear.

However, lead author Junwen Hu and co-author David Markowitz from Michigan State University approached the question from an economic perspective. They relied on the concept of the “thick market effect,” which proposes that larger markets increase the likelihood of finding highly compatible matches.

According to this framework, a dating platform functions similarly to a large job market where both sides search for the best possible fit. A broader pool of potential partners increases the probability that two individuals will align in values, goals, personality traits, and lifestyle preferences.

How The Experiments Were Designed

To test these ideas, the researchers conducted two online experiments involving single adults in the United States.

The first study included 193 participants aged 21 to 30 who were recruited through an online survey platform. Participants were introduced to a mock dating website called Date Today.

First, participants described their demographics, interests, and ideal partner preferences. They were then shown realistic dating profiles that matched their preferred gender. The profiles came from a pre-tested database designed to appear authentic.

Participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups. The low-option group viewed 6 profiles, while the high-option group viewed 31 profiles. After browsing the profiles, each participant selected one person they would potentially pursue romantically.

Researchers then measured participants’ desire to pursue a relationship with their chosen match. Additional questionnaires assessed general readiness for commitment, perceived compatibility, pickiness, social status perceptions, and fear of being single.

More Options, Stronger Relationship Pursuit

The results challenged the traditional theory of choice overload.

Participants who viewed 31 profiles reported stronger intentions to pursue a relationship with their selected match compared with those who viewed only 6 profiles.

Although the first study did not show a major difference in overall commitment readiness, participants in the larger-option group demonstrated noticeably stronger immediate interest in pursuing the chosen partner.

Researchers found that the key factor driving this effect was perceived compatibility.

Participants exposed to more profiles felt that the person they ultimately selected was a better match for them. Higher perceived compatibility strongly predicted greater motivation to pursue a romantic relationship.

Importantly, the larger dating pool did not appear to make participants significantly more demanding or indecisive. Seeing more profiles did not substantially increase pickiness, nor did it meaningfully affect feelings of social status or fear of being alone.

Second Study Confirms The Findings

To test whether these findings would hold up in a larger and more realistic sample, the researchers conducted a second experiment involving 342 single adults aged 18 to 35.

Unlike the first study, all participants in the second experiment were active dating app users, making the sample more representative of real-world online dating behavior.

The procedure closely resembled the first experiment, although the researchers added measures of perceived similarity between participants and their chosen matches. Once again, participants viewed either 6 or 31 profiles before selecting one potential partner.

The second study replicated and expanded upon the earlier findings.

Participants who selected from 31 profiles again showed stronger intentions to pursue a relationship than those who selected from only 6 profiles.

In this larger sample, the high-option group also reported greater overall readiness to commit to a relationship. Perceived compatibility and perceived similarity emerged as especially important factors, suggesting that a larger dating pool may help users identify people who feel more aligned with their personalities and preferences.

Implications For Dating Platforms

The researchers argue that the findings challenge common assumptions used in dating app design.

Many platforms intentionally limit the number of daily matches or swipes users can access, partly based on the belief that excessive choice creates overwhelm and dissatisfaction.

According to Hu and Markowitz, these restrictions may unintentionally reduce user engagement and lower motivation to pursue potential matches. When choices are too limited, users may feel uncertain about whether they have truly found the best possible partner for their preferences.

The findings suggest that dating platforms may benefit more from helping users clarify their preferences rather than aggressively restricting the number of available profiles.

The authors also propose greater collaboration between researchers and technology companies. They hope economic concepts such as market design could eventually improve matchmaking systems and support healthier relationship outcomes.

Limitations And Future Research

The researchers note several important limitations.

Participants selected one profile from a fixed set displayed on a single page and immediately reported their relationship intentions. Real dating apps usually present an endless stream of profiles over longer periods, which may produce different psychological effects.

Over time, users’ satisfaction with their choices may also shift as conversations develop, in-person meetings occur, and additional matches appear.

The study also examined only two pool sizes — 6 versus 31 profiles. Researchers note that much larger numbers of options could eventually produce genuine choice overload.

Future studies will likely examine where this tipping point may exist and how app design, recommendation algorithms, and user feedback systems influence romantic decision-making.

Article prepared by Victoria Caldwell.