Tinder Swipes Left on Traditional Dating: How it Has Transformed the Lives of Millennials

The ancient way of dating is slowly fading out. No longer do we have to pick up our pride and face strangers in public. Instead, we find nearly anonymous comfort in stealth behind our phone screen. Technology is nothing new to Generation Z, but it is being used in different ways. Online dating has long been restricted to the older generations; it is now widely available for teenagers. In light of this development, we ask ourselves how it affects the lives of teenagers compared to regular dating.

In September 2012, Tinder found its way to the app store. Since then it has achieved global success, responsible for over ten billion matches, according to their official website. The app allows for the user to create a profile linked to their Facebook page. They can share their pictures, interests, education, profession, as well as a short biography about themselves. Once the profile is created, the user can select their gender preference, range of ages, as well as the “search distance”, meaning that the app will only show other profiles that are in that range of the user. Once your profile is set up, you can then see other profiles, you can swipe left on a person if you are not interested, and swipe right if you are. If the other person also swipes right on your profile, the app then opens a chat service allowing you to interact with your matches.

Tinder has revolutionized the way we date. The lives of students are drastically different for Generation Z than they have been for the preceding generations. “I think it allows to kind of know what we have in common with people without having to leave it to people we would meet as school or by going out,” says past user Aja Palmer.

In the past, dating has been restricted to the people in our immediate circles or being introduced to someone else’s immediate circle, a lot of doors were closed. Now, with the invention of Tinder we are able to explore new possibilities and people, we are being propelled into the future.

“I don’t think I have a lot of confidence in person. Especially being gay, it’s hard to just go up to her and hit on her because you can never be sure if she’s gay too. That’s why I like tinder, I would never have to confidence to go up to a girl in a bar,” says Dawson student Olivia Mascitto.

The new form of dating that Tinder enables the generation to meet people that they never would have without it. Many of us are students and, if we are not studying, we lead busy lives. With school, school work, social lives, and (usually) a part time job, it is hard to find the time to date, let alone go out and find a person to start dating.

Tinder cuts out this “middle man” situation. People find success in this online universe like Aja has: “I’ve been really lucky in that I met with four guys and have been in a relationship with one of them for about six months now and it’s really great!” Tinder can create long term relationships that our generation may not have had the opportunity to experience, advancing their love life in an unconventional way.

It is important to note, though, that Tinder is not exclusively used for romance. There are some that use the app to promote their business and other work that they do, simply helping themselves forward in their careers creating exposure or meeting with people to collaborate with.

As Tinder, and teenage online dating in general, continues increased popularity, it has harnessed much criticism on how it is affecting the young users. It is undeniably a great way to connect with people whom you share common interests that you would most likely never come across in your everyday live. While this is great, there can be a downside.

In her article “iLoveYou, iLoveYouNot: The Psychology of Online Dating & Romantic Relationships,” Hannah Schacter summarized a study for the Association for Psychological Science. She found that having so many potential partners “reduces three-dimensional people to two-dimensional displays of information." Online profiles cannot capture the entire essence of a person as when you meet face to face. There is also the something called “relationshopping” where a potential partner seems to have less value, since there are so many others that can be explored.

A term coined “The Tinder Effect” looks at the psychological perspective of online dating. There are many people that link Tinder to “hook up culture”, meaning they believe that the main reason that young users are only using the app for sexual gratification. Although there are some users that see it as such, “I think people believe there’s only one type of horny guy on tinder but there are a lot of different types of people,” says Aja. It is evident that, despite some downsides, Tinder is a great tool that our generation has the chance of using. Apart from meeting new people, we can use this app as a way to tweak our lives and the people in it. It is a way of integrating new people in your circle and having fun doing so. It is a new take on dating that helps propel the users in a direction of success and happiness.

In the end, online dating is a very personal experience. While there are situations that teenagers need to look out for, the fact is that there are many successful stories to be shared. As long as teenagers are being true to themselves and make smart decisions, they can easily end up with a perfect match.

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