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A new survey has found children under the age of 14 are using dating apps to find long-term relationships and even hookups. I talked to the Today Show on why this is happening. The implications for a young person using a dating app early are huge and long term.
The survey questioned over 1000 teens & young adults about their lifestyle including dating. One in 3 said they used dating apps, with one in six signing up to these apps before they were adults. This is another huge change that technology has brought to childhood. It is also one that children will often deal with on their own because its more than likely a child will not disclose to their parent that they’ve joined a dating app.
When you conduct a survey you can never be sure how truthful people answer these questions but my guess is that this is a trend actually happening. Even though dating apps are for 18 yrs+ there is no one stopping a child faking their age and signing up. Kids see dating apps as very much part of adult world, and this is what they take on themselves. We don’t go to the local dance to meet someone anymore, so why would we think kids would do that.
These platforms are highly sexualised and it’s likely that a young person will meet someone older, with diverse relationship and sexual experience. This is a far cry from a school yard romance. There are huge safety risks. Also importantly, these first steps into romance will have a lasting impression on them and will set up their expectations for romance and relationships long term.
