Around JMU, there has been buzz about a new app called Tinder. What is Tinder? Tinder is the latest app craze, like Snap Chat and InstaGram. However, the difference with Tinder is that it is more of a dating app.
It shows the user a picture of a person –usually a Facebook profile picture– and below the picture you will see: the person’s first name (this app does not show last names), age, if you have any mutual friends with them and if you have any shared interests. Below the basic information there will be a red X and a green heart, which allow you to say whether you like the person’s picture or whether you dislike it and don’t see them as a potential match. To make it quicker you can slide the picture to the right indicating you like the person’s picture, or in the wise words of Beyoncé, send them to the left, to the left, and reject them.
Now, the fun part of Tinder, if you click on a person’s picture saying you like them, and if he or she likes your picture back, it’s a match! Once you have matches, you can message them.
To give a bit of background on Tinder, this app started on very few college campuses as a dating app like an OKCupid. People found they wanted more of a joke app where it’s a battle of who can spit the best pick-up line. While this is still the main purpose of the app, Tinder has become more popular now that people are actually pulling dates from the app. The pick-up lines and messages you receive on this app can be pretty funny, but sometimes people take it too far or they might be boring to you. In that case there is a block option, so you never have to speak to them and will never get them as potential matches again.
When you are debating whether you like someone’s picture you can click the picture to see more than one picture, as well as how far away they are from you. You’re also allowed a little self-summary, which from the few I’ve read can be pretty funny.
There is a long-running joke on Tinder that you will encounter once you get the app, and that is the infamous question, “How many push-ups can you do?” This joke/pick-up line started out on a website called Barstool, which ran a story about how to pick up girls.
I will warn you that this app becomes very addicting, and yes at times you may feel shallow swiping that kid from Biology class to the left. But don’t feel bad, this app is all in good fun and is very entertaining. It’s all anonymous, so the kid will never know you rejected him. While Snap Chat may be on the outs, why not try out another app to make the time pass quicker?