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LiveScience
LiveScience
Stephanie Pappas

Tinder, Hinge lawsuit raises question: Can dating apps be considered addictive?

Edited photo shows a woman's hands as she lifts a finger to swipe on a phone. Hearts in speech bubbles are shown popping up above the phone, indicating likes or notifications.

A lawsuit filed on Valentine's Day claims that several popular dating apps are "psychologically manipulative" and "addictive," encouraging "compulsive" use by people on the platforms.

The claim is aimed at Match Group, which owns a variety of online dating platforms including Tinder, Hinge, The League, Match and Plenty Of Fish. Depending on the outcome, the lawsuit could have wide-reaching implications, as an estimated 3 in 10 U.S. adults report having used a dating app at some point, according to the Pew Research Center.

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