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Topics: Sex and Relationships, Life, Money, Reddit, Social Media
Ella Scott
Topics: Sex and Relationships, Life, Money, Reddit, Social Media
A man who wracked up an astonishing $10,000 worth of debt on dating apps has pleaded for ‘desperate’ users to avoid repeating his mistakes.
Taking to Reddit, a user known as AnnoymousPenguin explained how he’d broken up with his long-term partner around one-and-a-half years ago and had turned to cyberdating for comfort.
“For some context, I'm a 28-year-old man, I got out of a 5-year relationship where I was codependent on someone when this all began,” he explained.
“[I] had no real friends as they were losers, and was lonely/desperate to make connections/ afraid to be alone.”
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The social media user said that he'd wound up in a vulnerable place following his breakup and that he’d looked to dating apps for comfort.
“These apps sold me on the bells and whistles of meeting someone and being successful/standing out, if I paid for the premiums,” he said.
“I'll be honest it's easy to get addicted and when you get matches it's like a gambler who's lost a bunch but gets one win and it keeps them going.”
While many popular dating apps are free to use, a myriad of companies keep their premium features behind a paywall.
These can include the ability to swipe on unlimited users, being granted a look at who likes you beforehand and being able to see when other users are typing.
Unfortunately, it appears as if the Reddit user wound up in debt after splurging around $10,000 on these premium features in his quest for companionship.
The user claims to have taken out a personal loan to consolidate his debts, which he has now paid in full.
“[I] haven't been paying for anything on dating apps since while I pay it off,” he said.
“Feels liberating, especially since then therapy and a lot of other major life choices helped me grow past this and use it as a learning experience.”
In the comments section of his Reddit post, the man issued a warning to those who are willing to spend a buck or two on premium features.
“One thing you need to understand is these apps will dangle the membership as a way to get matches, and once you do it just increases your odds a bit,” he said. “They're meant to get you hooked and through money into them because you're desperate.”
Following the post, users came out in their droves to comment on the man’s former predicament.
One wrote: “Sightly worse than my 3k Royal Match game debt.”
A second said: “Better to have invested that money in improving yourself and your presentation on those apps. Being attractive and presentable is the type of boost you don't pay for directly.”
Another user said they connected with their wife on a dating app when they 'wanted to meet 'down to Earth' women', adding: "Didn't cost me anything as it was during the two week free period!”
While someone else typed: “Surprised to hear it was mostly just from memberships and boosts. I can easily see 10k debt from actual dates in this day n age lol.”