Tinder: Our Favorite Nightmare

Tinder might quite possibly be the best and worst thing to happen to our generation. In the past decade, online dating has become more and more mainstream. At first, the stigma of online dating was that it was occupied with aging people worried about their biological clocks ticking. In recent years we’ve seen a switch in the mindset of us millennials, making it quite common for our peers to be on at least one dating website (every social media seems to walk the line of being a dating website). Thanks to Tinder, online dating has been simplified to a simple “yes” or “no”. 

Started in 2012, Tinder connects Facebook profiles to provide pictures and short biographies of people in close proximity to you. With the help of GPS technology, users set a specific radius and can potentially match with other users within range. Not only is this a little creepy (Big Brother knows what we look for in a potential mate as well as how far we’re willing to travel to meet this person) but it can cause huge problems in the dating scene. Although some claim to be using Tinder merely to meet new people and develop friendships, it’s the mere nature of Tinder that sort of ruins the credibility of this argument. Users are simply shown a picture of the person, their age, proximity and sometimes a short biography. We’re doing exactly what our parents told us not to; judging a book by it’s cover. If you can honestly look your significant other in the eye and tell them you had completely innocent intentions in mind while maintaining your profile into the relationship, more power to you. However this doesn’t seem to be the case with most college men. A couple of things seem to sum up why we use Tinder;

1.     To Build Confidence:

Sure, you’re not looking to score with these matches. This doesn’t mean it isn’t nice to know that the gorgeous blonde in your English class sees you the same way.

2.     Keeping Your Options Open:

Although this may be grounds for a breakup, this seems to be more and more common in today’s dating culture. It is no longer as promiscuous to be hanging out with more than one person with the potential of establishing a relationship.

3.     Casual Fling:

This seems to be the desired experience with these new dating apps. It may progress to something more but let’s be honest, you can’t really expect to find what you’re looking for in a person with six pictures, their age, proximity, and a couple sentences expressing their love for felines and their Snapchat info.

4.     Find Friendships:

Ladies, you may sign up for Tinder with complete intention to find new friends and nothing more. Guys, on the other hand, do not share these intentions. Tinder isn’t a place to meet friends, as shallow as it seems, it’s a place to find a potential date based on looks.

5. Just For Kicks:

Some guys go for the no f***s given approach. This is a high risk, high reward method of tindering. It could be just to get a rise out of someone and laugh about it with our buddies. Or it could be an attempt to come off as confident. The differences between the two can be hard to distinguish. Regardless of your intentions, tread lightly while using this app. 

The Dramatic Approach:

The Realist:

The Pun-Star:

The Denial: