Is it the dating apps that make you feel down? or the idea of dating itself? if that person you have met anywhere, not online, would you still accept his invitation ? or is it the idea of dating someone you don't know very well, if that's the case, have you considered just meeting that person, there's no commitment or anything even if dating is something that you may consider later, and just be friends, talk, hangout, until you know for sure what you want ?
What I understand from what you say is that you are interested in dating but it's not something important for you, because if you were not interested in dating even a little bit I guess you wouldn't think about using dating apps or even writing this post or feeling down about it.
Because people are on dating apps for dating seems very logic as it is the goal of using those apps. There's nothing silly or ridiculous about looking for dating, it's natural to need a partner, nothing shameful about it even if it's frustrating and disappointing sometimes, it is only ridiculous when someone is desperate about it.
If you are not interested in dating, but only looking for friendship, then dating apps are not the right place for that. Because what's the point of having conversations with strangers that you know for sure that you are not interested in meeting them, or not having the same goal as them (dating).
There are other types of apps, and places, where you can go and meet new people who are not looking for dating.