By Haley Costen
Staff Writer
In this weekly column, I’ll pretty much be your dating spirit guide for Tinder and otherwise. Every week I’ll write about the dumb things people say and do on Tinder, good, bad and awkward date situations, and some dos and don’ts. Kind of like “Sex and the City,” but without having to listen to Kim Cattrall brag all day.
Tinder is a relatively new sensation for young single people who spend most of their time staring at their cell phone screens. If you’re under 25 and haven’t heard of it, there’s no point in softening the blow—you might be kind of a loser. Or maybe you’re just really well-adjusted and meet people at Starbucks or something. Whatever. It’s now time to join the ranks of the cool and informed.
Tinder is an app that connects to the user’s Facebook, allowing them to select up to six of their favorite bathroom mirror selfies and connects them with people in their area. It displays shared Facebook “likes” and mutual friends without posting annoying or embarrassing notifications on your timeline. That way your parents won’t be notified every time you make a match with a dude who has a neck tattoo.
If you like someone, you simply swipe to the right; if not you swipe to the left; or if you’re directionally challenged like me there’s a helpful “X” and a heart in the bottom of the screen you can tap as well. If someone also likes your profile you’re informed that you made a match and you’re free to message each other (or to block them if they talk “lik dis”).
Tinder has received a mixed reception. Some call it a “hook-up” app, but feminist entertainment blog Jezebel reported in July that it had matched 75 million people, with 50 engagements culminating from those matches. I guess it’s really up to the user to determine how they want to use the app—how you want to tinder, so to speak. Either way, it only seems to be growing in popularity.
Online dating once seemed reserved for the ranks of basement-dwelling freaks and your sad aunt Miriam, but Tinder has reduced the stigma of it. It’s hard to hate on something that half your friends are doing.
In the few months I’ve been on it, I’ve learned a lot about online dating and what you can expect from users on Tinder. I’ve had some really great dates and some not so great dates. I can’t say any deep philosophical conversations have sprung from Tinder, but quite a few have definitely made lasting impressions.
To send in your own Tinder horror stories or adventures, email simmonsvoice.com/tip-hotline
And for more content and images, here is a shameless plug for my blog: talktindertome.wordpress.com
