Most People Use Dating Apps For Validation — Is That Bad? That statistic suggests dating apps are basically a forum for public affirmation On the heels of a bad breakup, Kristina, 27, wasn’t ready to find a new partner just yet. “I had a bruised ego . so I loved the idea of getting to pick from men who picked me first,” she remembers. “But most of all, it was a ginormous ego boost.” Kristina found herself using dating apps for validation, with no real intention of pursuing anyone she met online. “Every single time I swiped on a hot guy from the group, it was a match,” she explains. “I was so flattered.” Kristina was using apps mostly to feel good about herself – and it turns out, this practice is pretty common.