As if online dating is dumb and difficult enough, just swipe left on online dating all together.

A UK-based study from the Marriage Foundation found that 12% of couples who meet their significant other through an online dating app had a 12% rate of divorce within the first three years of marriage. This is significantly higher than the 2% of couples who met through family or friends.

Also higher, couples who met through school or work, had a divorce rate of 8% and 7%, respectively.

The study surveyed over 2000 respondents who were at least 30 years old and married at least once while controlling for decade in which couple met, age, gender, and occupations.

Harry Benson, research director of the Marriage Foundation, stated, “”It suggests that in the early years of marriage, couples who meet this way might lack sufficient social capital or close support networks around them to deal with all the challenges they face.” In other words, because meeting online brings together to complete strangers, they lack the social support of family and friends through the difficult early years of marriage.

On a bright note, the divorce rate begins to normalize after the 3rd year.

While the authors do not feel this data undermines the value of online dating, which it doesn’t really, unless you’re the one getting the divorce, we at Man of Honor recommend you stop swiping and shut off the dating apps, and go out to meet people doing things you enjoy and surround yourself with a supportive social circle who will attract a significant other naturally.

Benson H. Relative Strangers: The Importance of Social Capital for Marriage. Marriage Foundation. http://www.marriagefoundation.org.uk