In recent years there has been increasing academic attention to forms and practices of disconnection to social networking sites. However, there has been limited attention to non-use/departures, particularly with dating apps. In this article I draw on 27 interviews with previous and current users of dating apps to explore their practices of leaving/deleting their dating apps. For the majority of participants, leaving a dating app was due to ‘success’ in finding a relationship. For others, it was the ‘failure’ to find a relationship. I suggest that this highlights not only the centrality of finding/not finding a relationship to dating app use and departure, but also a particular construction of relationships: romantic, sexually exclusive/monogamous and life-long. This was the case for the majority of participants who identified as heterosexual, gay, lesbian, bisexual and queer and indicates the reproduction and valuing of a particular relationship form and practice for diverse users.
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