By: Dariyone Thompson
The dating site Tinder rose to greater popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic. 2020 was Tinder’s golden year as it made 1.2 billion dollars according to DatingZest.com. The article goes on by saying, “the highest number of swipes (3 billion) to be recorded on Tinder was on March 28th, 2020.” This was about a week after the pandemic hit the U.S. It was a way for singles to mingle with other singles and for those who weren’t looking for a relationship to meet new friends. While Tinder is favored amongst the younger generation, it comes with many pros and cons. And just like any dating site, it comes with lots of safety precautions for its users to follow.
The first pro of Tinder is that there are plenty of options. Tinder allows you to see many men and women in your area, in other parts of the country, and in other countries (if you want). If you’re out of town and want to see who’s on Tinder in that part of the world, you can do so. Another pro is that Tinder gives you the power to choose. When it comes to dating, we don’t want to go out with just anyone. Tinder gives their users the option to swipe left or right. If you swipe right that means you are interested in that person but if you swipe left that means you are disinterested. A bonus pro to add is that if you swipe left, it is completely anonymous. Another pro of Tinder is that it saves time compared to traditional dating. Normally when individuals want to meet others they will get dressed up and go out to bars or restaurants. Tinder eliminates the need for doing that and you can do it in the comfort of your pajamas. The last pro of Tinder is that it can be used by everyone, including the LGBT community. Tinder invites all sexual orientations in with open arms. If you are a member of the LGBT community and are looking for a significant other, Tinder might be for you.
While there are many pros to having a Tinder account, there are also some cons to it. The first con is that your match could be a catfish. When speaking to people online, it is easy for them to display something that may not be truthful. Thelifevirtue.com advises to, “set your boundaries early and make sure you both know what you want.” They also said, “if you’re not ready to meet your match or feel that something is wrong, trust your gut feeling and take it easy.” Another con of using Tinder is that it promotes the hook-up culture. Since most of the users are young, it is more common to match with someone on Tinder and all that person wants is to hook-up for a night. This makes it hard for those who are looking for a long-term relationship. The last con of Tinder is it encourages compulsive use. Tinder is much like TikTok, once you start swiping you won’t want to stop. Thelifevirtue.com states that, “average users spend 35 minutes a day on Tinder.” This is a contribution to the large amount of time we spend on our phones.
Being connected to a dating site like Tinder comes with lots of safety precautions that need to be followed. It is important to do a few things when you decide to meet anyone online. The first thing that needs to be done is to meet in a public place in the daytime. According to vyke.com, “you should always arrange to meet at the location, so take control of your own transport, even if that means taking a cab.” They also advise you to tell a friend when and where you plan to meet your match. Tinder also has a way for their users to use Noonlight. Noonlight is an app people can use when they feel unsafe. When you open the app, there will be a button you can press and hold until you feel safe. Once you stop holding the button, the app will ask you to put in your four-digit code. If you don’t put in the code, the app will automatically send local emergency personnel to your location. Tinder is a great tool for meeting new people but please consider all the pros and cons before using the app. I would also suggest coming up with a plan of action when you decide to meet with someone you matched with.
Sources: Sajjad, F (November 21, 2019). 15+ Pros and Cons of Tinder use with Images- is it really worth it? https://thelifevirtue.com/pros-and-cons-of-tinder/
Liam (February 5, 2021). Tinder Statistics 2021 & Fun Facts You Didn’t Know Before. https://datingzest.com/tinder-statistics/
Stay Safe on Tinder (September 8th, 2016). https://www.vyke.com/stay-safe-on-tinder/
Noonlight https://www.noonlight.com/noonlight-ap
