Who hasn’t felt weird at some point downloading dating apps like Tinder and Bumble? Shows like Catfish make us wonder about the legitimacy of these online dating apps. Are we actually swiping right for a real person or fake profile? Truth is, most users are real and very normal folks looking to find someone. Dating apps should really be brought to light as the best matchmakers of the millennial era.
College should be a time to find yourself and figure out who you like and what you want in a relationship. So why not take full advantage of these online dating apps? They truly give you the freedom to hookup with whomever you want. Tinder and Bumble lets you get away with exploring your sexuality within a small subset of the community while in the privacy of your own home or elsewhere.
Wondering why Tinder is worth your time?
Tinder saves time.
We don’t have time to be wined and dined, especially in college. With midterms, social events and work, college students barely have time to brush their hair, let alone find prince charming. Some college students swear by these dating apps to find hookups and even relationships from such social media outlets. I know plenty of friends that have been dating for years from just a simple swipe. “My friend literally got married to a guy she swiped right to eight months ago,” said American University junior Christina Poehlitz.
Women Get the Upper Hand.
Another reason why dating apps are beneficial? One word: Bumble. For those of you know don’t know, Bumble only allows women to start the chat with their matches. This put an interesting twist on the online dating game. It puts the ball in the girl’s court. I’ve had my share of odd messages, so I love the idea of apps where ladies always initiate the action. Even better? Sometimes we get caught up in feeling insecure about messaging or texting first. Bumble defies all these preconceived notions that men need to make the first move. Let’s face it—it’s no longer a man’s world out here in the dating app era.
Internet connection can give you a love connection…
I always thought I needed human interaction to build a connection to someone. But after years of Tinder and Bumble, I didn’t find that true anymore. I’m not a huge relationship person, so these apps nearly saved my college hookup career when I got tired of making out with the same frat boys sophomore year. But if you’re not just looking for hookups, these apps can be a great place to find the one. “I actually downloaded the app after I saw it on my friend’s phone, and I thought it would be a funny way to pass my time. But instead I met my boyfriend of four years on Tinder,” AU junior Sarah Davies said.
…but always trust your intuition.
It should go without saying, but hooking up with people you may not know so well can be interesting in more ways than one. Always proceed with caution and get to know the person if the first post-Tinder match coffee date goes well. You can always kind of tell when someone seems super sketchy via Tinder or Bumble. Go with your gut when you swipe through these dating apps.
“The online world is filled with imposters, so it’s almost impossible to determine if you are being targeted. If you are on Tinder or any other dating site and a person can’t provide you with a variety of social media accounts directly linked back to them, it’s a telling sign,” AU sophomore Bryan White said. As eager as you feel to dive into the world of Tinder matches, don’t accept every date without proper vetting. “A person who is willing to find love, friendship or a hookup with someone on a dating app should have no problem posting a Facebook status,” said White.
These dating apps and hooking up can give hopeless romantics the courage to start a relationship or hook up after years of being in a relationship. You’d be surprised how many quality options exist in the cyber dating word. 26 million matches are made on Tinder daily, so who knows? You just might find your dream guy or girl a few swipes away.
