What dating apps are actually like

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Have you experienced dating apps? Dating apps, such as Tinder, Hinge, Bumble, etc., are all based around the premise of seeing someone you find attractive and ‘swiping’ on them. Once you both sides have decided that you find one another attractive then you are able to chat with one another. The common perception of what people are looking for on dating apps is casual hookups with no strings attached. There are still other reasons for dating apps, like finding significant others and possible friends. However, there is a lot more to dating apps that we need to unpack.

There are risks that can present themselves through technology. According to NISVS common tactics of stalkers are to try to communicate with their victims through text messages, phone calls, and voice messages (Smith et al. 2017). These are tactics that could be taken to another level because the premise of a relationship was started through an online platform. We live in a world where technology presumes our lives. We are constantly connected to our phones, laptops, and more because we might feel if we disconnect then we will miss something. Technology can take away a certain level of privacy. Dating apps use your location to find people for possible connections that are nearby. Another risk that comes along with dating online is the possibility of catfishing. Catfishing is when someone pretends to be another person and deceives the person they are connecting with. An extremely scary example of this was from a story I found online. Ratu Bose was a middle-aged man on Tinder who presented himself as someone whose background was filled with military duties. He presented himself in this light to gain the attraction of women before raping them. This can be a scary reality for individuals of all ages and being deceived on the internet is a very real and terrifying reality of online dating.

We also need to discuss the blunt reality that we are creating an extremely shallow community. Dating apps can contribute to a developing shallow community because the main ability to find someone that you may be compatible with is based on appearance. When you are on the app, the person’s photo is the first thing that you will see at large. In order to get more insight into who the person is, or at least what they are willing to share upfront, you have to click on their profile and scroll to see the information they chose to provide. It is typically very minimal and not in great detail of who they are as a person. Dating apps can make a person feel much more self-aware and self-conscious with the knowledge that they will be judged for compatibility based on their appearance when they sign up. This can lead to even greater body dysmorphia than our society is already currently facing.

Although technology has advanced our society significantly for great uses, there are still negatives that come along with that. Dating apps are no exceptions. They can be great and serve their purpose well whether someone is looking for a romantic relationship or a casual hookup. However, there are still genuine risks that come along with putting yourself out there on an online platform to any degree. We need to stay vigilant and look out for one another in our communities. It is up to us to keep one another safe and protect our loved ones in the community.