Swipe left on labels: New app aims to cure Sydney loneliness epidemic

A Sydney psychologist has launched an innovative new dating and friend-finding app that asks you to drop the labels and obsession with looks to find your perfect match.

“Physical attraction matters but emotional safety, conflict style, and communication are far better predictors of lasting connection,” says psychologist Rachel Harker. Picture: Getty Images

Social media would have us believe that the world is full of narcissists and ‘walking red flags’ but in reality, finding a partner or friend who is a true narcissist is – thankfully – harder than it seems.

And this obsession with using labels is making us lonely and quick to ditch a relationship that is not working, says Sydney clinical psychologist Rachel Harker.

Terms made popular through TikTok and Instagram such as ‘narcissist’ and ‘red flag’ can make finding love and friendship matches difficult, so Ms Harker designed a psychology-based dating and friendship app to decipher people’s behaviours and personalities.

Someone that seems cold or detached, for example, may “not have the best coping mechanism” – but is probably not a narcissist.

Psychologist Rachel Harker says one in three Australians are lonely. Picture: Thomas Lisson

“I think people can be very quick to label or do the ‘armchair’ diagnosis,” Ms Harker said.

“It lumps someone into a category they probably shouldn’t be in.”

She said the modern ‘swipe’ culture has encouraged people to treat relationships as ‘transactional’, and when the going gets tough, move on quickly.

And in a city that is renowned for being difficult to meet new friends and lovers, the stakes have never been higher.

“One in three Australians are chronically lonely – not just lonely – chronically lonely. So that’s 7 million people,” Ms Harker said.

“That’s a lot of people to be feeling that disconnection and that loneliness.”

For those ready to jump in and join Tribal, each user must answer 33 research-backed questions which then display a ‘tribal map’ of personal goals, values and preferences.

Matches’ tribal maps are then combined to give a visual representation of how both fit together and how their personalities may align.

“It gives that in-depth understanding from day one and it gets rid of all the superficial labels and the jargon and the trends,” Ms Harker said.

“It just gets down to the core compatibility of human connection.”

The key point of difference, however, is that photos are blurred for 72 hours, requiring users to communicate unseen and build rapport without relying on looks.

“Physical attraction matters but emotional safety, conflict style, and communication are far better predictors of lasting connection. That’s what we focus on.

To join the Tribal app, each user must answer 33 questions which then display a tribal map of personal goals, values and preferences.

“It gives people that chance to connect on a much deeper authentic level and not let that superficial judgment be the first thing that you decide whether you’re even going to talk to a person or not.”

Sydney woman Brooke Johnstone welcomed the concept behind Tribal and said it was “a good idea”, saying the other apps were “a joke”.

“Anything could help the Sydney dating scene right now,” Ms Johnstone said.

She described the city’s dating scene as “atrocious” after being single for nearly four years, except for a ‘situationship’ at the end of 2024.

“The situationship was a textbook love bomber, then ghosted. I feel that’s very, very common for the apps.

“Last year I had a guy set up a date then completely ghost. Men in Sydney don't know how to communicate nor plan dates.”

Originally published as Swipe left on labels: New app aims to cure Sydney loneliness epidemic