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Online dating is nothing new, but with the rise of smartphones, mobile dating apps are quickly becoming the preferred platform for finding someone special. Launched in 2012, Tinder has become one of the largest dating platforms that caters to a new generation of hooking up. With about 50 million users and an impressive 1.4 billion swipes per day, Tinder is now the leader in a crowded field of mobile dating apps designed to match you with people who have interests similar to yours. I have used Tinder on and off since it’s release, and each time I come back to the app, I’m impressed by additional features and an improved user experience. Every update Tinder releases attracts new users and refines the matching process a bit more. Tinder’s user base has a wide variety of intentions, some people are there just to hook up and some are there for love. With each match, you’ll find out pretty quick if you’ve connected with someone looking for a relationship or just a quick fling.
Profiles 7
Tinder connects with your Facebook profile to pull your interests and friends list, which makes signing up and building a profile incredibly easy. From there, you have complete control over the pictures seen on your profile and the bio you write. The bio includes fields allowing you to describe what you’re looking for and any deal breakers. Or you can be mysterious and just use a pizza emoji—everyone loves pizza. Instagram can also pair with the app allowing you to show off your amatuer photography skills to potential matches.Tinder also displays your work and education based on your Facebook profile. So if you’re still rocking “Life” as your current workplace and you’re looking for love, it might be time to change that.
Tinder App Preview
Matching 5
Tinder uses a geofence set by the user to find matches within a desired radius up to 50 miles. You are able to set it to search a specific age range from 18-55+, and the gender you want to find. From there, Tinder will use an algorithm based on your interests, friends, and swiping habits to find people who are a relative fit for you. Then, for each match you can swipe right or left.
Once you swipe right, you will eventually show up as a potential match on the other person’s screen as well. If they swipe right, it will register you both as a match and open a chat allowing you to exchange your best pick up lines. A new feature released in late 2015 allows you to “superlike” someone. Superlikes are only available once every 12 hours. This is done by swiping up or hitting the blue star which then places you on top of that person’s pile with a notification that you superliked them. It’s a way to help increase the quality of matches you receive on Tinder. With Tinder Plus, you are able to swipe through matches in other locations around the world as well as rewind if you accidentally swiped left on a babe.
Filters 6
Finding your perfect match on Tinder can be hit or miss. Since the app uses Facebook as a basis of their algorithm, you can potentially get matched with someone based on a page you liked back in 8th grade when you were listening to Good Charlotte in your Hot Topic t-shirt. It might not fit with your Polo-wearing, brunch-eating current personality. If you accidentally swipe right on someone, you’re able to unmatch them easily, which will also prevent them from coming up as an option again. To find the right fit, you really have to look through each profile. Check their Instagram if it’s connected and try to get a vibe for that person. Matching with quality people is a judgement of character that the user has to make rather than the app. Best of luck, fellow swipers.
Communication 8
Tinder makes communicating easy with an instant chat option after you’re matched. The app recently released a feature allowing you to send GIFs to each other. This is designed to ease the tension of that first message. You’re also able to like someone’s message, which is shown through a green heart next to the message bubble. Tinder separates new-match chats from already-started conversations. From there, the ball is in your court. Send a funny pick-up line or go with the more traditional “Hello!” Just be respectful, no one likes a buzzkill.
Value 9
nder is 100% free for the base app. It allows you to swipe right on many people, but will penalize you if you swipe right too often. Tinder makes users wait 12 hours if it finds they swipe right constantly. This is designed to keep people from degrading the overall quality of the app’s matches. Tinder offers you a quick way to find people in your area and is designed to make chatting easy. The paid version allows you to explore matches in other locations and take back accidental left swipes. The free version is great for anyone just looking to meet new people in their area. It’s a busy world and Tinder helps you connect to people you may otherwise never meet.
