This is just a rant, not looking for advice

Ex and I have been split for almost a year now, been doing the gym, kids, self healing for about 9 months now and figured id check out the dating world. Its been 14 years since I was single and I dont really have a lot of friends, hobbies that dont involve kids and family friends with kids at this point in my life, so I checked out the dating apps...

Talk about screaming into the void and paying for it. I met my wife in match.com, back then it was like 20-30 bucks for 6 months of service. Message whoever, search and basically no extra fees. There was no tinder like swiping and people seemed idk realistic? about finding someone. These new aps are just depressing and soul crushing. Want to see who liked you? 30 bucks a month. Want to like someone back? 10 bucks a like. Want to send a message? $5 bucks. Want to send a message with a higher chance of being read? $10 bucks. Interested in these "prized women" who arent bottom of the barrel that get no attention? Pay up even more. I just find myself mindlessly scrolling and liking, its like doom scrolling reddit but somehow more addictive and less satisfying. Im getting some matches, lots of likes from women im not interested in. But the time, money and emotional investment just doesnt feel worth it.

Then there is the "prized" women. Every single one is just a copy fucking paste of the last one. "Travel, my dog, coffee, drinking". So many of these women even have profile pictures of their dog licking their mouth, vomits. The number of them that have aggressive breed dogs like pitbulls seems extremely high compared to what the rest of society appears to have for dogs... Then for some reason these women think being late 30s unmarried that now is the time to start having kids...WHAT?! Like every single one of them wants kids and a ring. You're 38 years old, lets say we have an instant connection and get married in 2 years. That means you will be 41 by the time you have your FIRST kid! You will be 60 years old by the time they graduate high school. Then dont even get started in playing the autism/complications odds that start to increase drastically over the age of 30.

I see now why so many divorced 30-40 year old men end up dating 20 year olds. At least with them I dont have to pretend that I want some magical connection that ends with a ring, 2.5 kids and a house.

And I am not at all against dating a formerly divorced woman with kids herself, but so many of them also make it seem like I would be auditioning for the role of step dad. Like why are you putting pictures of you and your kid in your dating profile? I know you have kids, it says so right in your bio. I have kids as well, I would never dream of putting them in my dating app profile, hell it would likely take 1-2 years of really amazing dating before I would even consider introducing you to them.

Just oof man, maybe Ill just stick to being the best father I can be because if I am already this dismayed I dont think dating apps are for me. Ive been making new friends and trying to meet new people through other activities, ill stick with that.