Remember the first day you opened Grindr? That incredible feeling: dozens, hundreds of profiles. You were no longer alone. But quickly, you went from scarcity to overflow. And that's where the trap cl... — From the Groundr blog, the #1 Grindr addiction blocker app.
🎰The Abundance Trap
Remember the first day you opened Grindr? That incredible feeling: dozens, hundreds of profiles. You were no longer alone. But quickly, you went from scarcity to overflow. And that's where the trap closed.
The "supermarket" effect
Psychologist Barry Schwartz theorized what he calls the "paradox of choice": when you have 10 options, you choose. When you have 1000, you scroll endlessly. Your brain is overwhelmed and enters decision paralysis. Researchers from the University of Wisconsin (D'Angelo & Toma, 2016, Media Psychology) tested this in a dating context: people who choose from a small group of profiles are more satisfied with their choice, while those browsing large groups are more likely to second-guess themselves.
The devaluation of connection
The more profiles you see, the less each one matters. What was once rare, a real conversation, a genuine encounter, becomes disposable. You move from one profile to the next without pausing. A recent investigative report on Grindr described this sensation of being "drowned in supply", hypnotized by an endless conveyor belt of profiles.
Cognitive overload is measurable
A study by Thomas, Binder and Matthes (2024, New Media & Society) showed that the more messages and taps users receive, the more overwhelmed they report feeling. Paradoxically, success on the app, lots of messages, costs more cognitive resources, leading to more superficial choices and greater dissatisfaction.
Action
Today, do a simple exercise: count how many profiles you've looked at and how many real conversations you've had. The ratio tells you something.
Schwartz, B. (2004). The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less. Ecco/HarperCollins. | D'Angelo, J.D. & Toma, C.L. (2016). There Are Plenty of Fish in the Sea. Media Psychology, 20(1), 1-31. | Thomas, M.F., Binder, A. & Matthes, J. (2024). The psychological influence of dating app matches. New Media & Society.