# Therapists Warn Against TikTok Dating Advice

> Experts say TikTok relationship advice often harms connections.
- Title: Therapists Warn Against TikTok Dating Advice · Cosmopolitan
- Summary: Experts say TikTok relationship advice often harms connections. Therapists urge ignoring TikTok's transactional and manipulative dating advice to avoid…
- Keywords: tiktok, relationship, dating, therapist, advice, transactional, communication, mental health, Therapists, Warn, Against, Cosmopolitan
- Source: Cosmopolitan — https://cosmopolitan.com/relationships/a73870848/bad-tiktok-relationship-advice
- Author: Syeda Khaula Saad
- Published: 2026-09-25T17:41:42+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: tiktok, relationship, dating, therapist, advice, transactional, communication, mental health
## TikTok Dating Advice
Therapists say most TikTok dating advice is harmful and transactional.

> any and all dating advice
## Test Your Partner
TikTok encourages testing partners through ignoring or creating situations to see reactions.

> test them
## Expect Perfect Partners
TikTok advice tells people to expect perfect partners without effort.

> if he wanted to, he would
## Relationship Friction
TikTok claims any relationship friction means the relationship is bad.

> relationships shouldn’t be hard
## Constant Red Flags
TikTok pushes constant assessment of relationships for red flags.

> be alert at all times
## Financial Gain in Relationships
TikTok promotes relationships as financial transactions rather than emotional connections.

> relationships are for financial gain
## Sex Rejection
TikTok advises men to leave partners if they’re not interested in sex.

> if they’re not interested in sex, go cold
## Therapist Ronald Hoang
Therapist Ronald Hoang says testing partners creates more problems than solutions.

> instead of encouraging honest communication, it encourages people to play games
## Therapist Rebecca Boone
Therapist Rebecca Boone says partners should communicate needs instead of assuming.

> we've started confusing emotional compatibility with emotional mind-reading
## Therapist Ciara Bogdanovic
Therapist Ciara Bogdanovic says constant red flag assessment creates anxiety.

> being overly tuned in to relationship content can create hypervigilance
## Therapist Vanessa Cushing
Therapist Vanessa Cushing says relationships should be about connection, not financial gain.

> relationships should be about the connection
## What to Do Instead
Instead of TikTok advice, communicate openly and understand your partner's needs.

> have a conversation. be open-minded
## Key takeaway

Therapists urge ignoring TikTok's transactional and manipulative dating advice to avoid relationship damage.