Gindr & Tinder: The New Wingman?

Finding love may be as simple as the swipe of your finger, as college student's flock to mobile dating solutions Tinder and Grindr. These apps have been topping charts in the Apple App Store and Google Play store since as early as the Summer months of 2013, and have risen to fame ever since. It's not surprising, either, as both apps offer a channel for individuals to rate and communicate with one another. The concept is not unlike those popular 'Hot or Not' styled websites that sprouted up in the late 90s where users are given a photo of another person, and they can decide whether they find them appealing or unattractive. Tinder and Grindr have utilized social networking and location-based technology to bring this pastime to the hands of the bored, but interested, smartphone wielder.

While both apps offer the same basic idea (establishing connections between interested individuals), they are not entirely equal. Tinder is focused more on heterosexual relationships, while Grindr is for just about everyone else. Here's how they work: you install the app, and you connect it with your Facebook profile. The apps will allow you to choose several photos to display, as well as load up your basic profile information (interests, location, and friends). You then designate what age group you want to search for, the how far from you want your results to be located, and like magic, the matching profiles start filtering in.

Everything is based on snap judgments. If you find a person attractive you can swipe to the right, or forever cast them away into the corner of despair by swiping to the left. When two interested individuals are matched together they - gasp - are able to communicate with one another through a built in chat program.

Both apps have faced criticism as users and critics alike accuse them of exploiting, or promoting, the already prevalent hook-up culture that is typical on most college campuses. Students have reported that it is challenging to find an authentic, or otherwise worthwhile, relationship on either platform, and this has earned both apps a more lustful reputation. According to one Plymouth State student, Todd Palmer, "It's a really superficial experience, and I don't think people can really find a real relationship on it. Everything is based on snap judgments, so there really isn't much there to build something on". When asked what Palmer expected when he first installed Tinder, he paused, saying, "Not much. It was just something I installed one day for fun, and it is pretty entertaining. It's an ego booster when you're matched with someone you find good looking, but really though, it's the instant gratification that makes this app so popular."

Another student who had installed Tinder for more serious reasons explained, "It seemed like a better way to browse people than parties." When asked what some of her experiences were with the platform, she said that, "It felt like mostly creepy guys messaged me. One guy aggressively tried to get me to come to him over an hour away, so I tried to stay off the app for a while after that."

Finally, one faithful, albeit anonymous, PSU goer had some words to share in regards to his time using Grindr. He explained that he used it, "Shortly after I had 'come out', but I was pretty hesitant at first. I expected it just to be another hookup app. After a little while I ended up hooking up with a guy, and everyone after that just seemed like crazy old men that were desperate for sex. So, really, it was interesting at first, but became creepier toward the end."

If anything, one can use either app to extend their friend pool, chatting with individuals for the simple purpose of getting to know someone they might never otherwise meet. Currently, approximately 60% of Tinder users regularly check the app, while many will check the app five to six times daily. At least one out of every five Tinder users have met up with someone they first chatted with through the app.

Every day there are 400 million ratings being conducted on Tinder, with about 50,000 actions processed every second. 4.5 million users are matched with one another daily, with over 500 million global matches since the app released in 2013.

So play safe Plymouth people, and beware of creepers, old sex-driven maniacs, and the friends you're too embarrassed to let know you're using a dating app.