Dating apps don’t work out as we want them to, for our age at least,” says 25-year-old graphic designer Tara Menon. Today, dating apps have become less about finding genuine connection and more about coping with loneliness. “Rather than really wanting a relationship, we kind of just feel lonely and are not able to shake off that feeling,” she says, “All that we need is like a quick fix.”

Like many Gen Z users across urban India, Menon found herself trapped in the repetitive cycle of matching, chatting, ghosting, and starting over again. Her experience reflects a growing contradiction within India’s booming online dating culture. Dating apps continue to grow rapidly among young urban users, promising endless choice and compatibility. Yet for many Gen Z users, the experience increasingly feels hollow and emotionally draining.