Dating Apps within the College scene
Head down, fingers quickly scrolling across her cell phone screen, Saron Merid, a 21-year-old senior at Georgia State is spending the hour before her next class doing what she normally does when she has any down time — trolling Tinder. She is very decisive about her choices, and mere milliseconds pass in between her left and right swipes. According to Merid, reading the Tinder profiles is a waste of time, so her first contact is based only on appearance. And Merid is not alone.
Whether in search of a soul mate, a casual hookup, or simply as a way to alleviate boredom, the majority of college students admit to using dating apps. According to globaldatinginsights.com more than 91% of surveyed college students use dating apps.
Although the apps are most commonly used to meet potential dates, college students, especially freshmen, also use the apps to meet people on campus, and to connect to the college scene too. Tinder, the preferred app of 84% of college students, and Bumble are the two most popular dating apps for college students. Bumble identifies as a so-called “feminist” dating app because it puts the power of starting a conversation in the hands of the woman.
This may help the college-aged women feel more secure and in control of the process. As one anonymous user bluntly commented, there are fewer creepy men on Bumble. New apps, however, such as Hilly and Hinge, are quickly taking their place along the more well-known dating apps.
When asked about the use of dating apps at their college, Georgia State students Rob Haro and Nate Key commented that people need to go back to the old fashion way of dating and actually get out and meet their connections rather than just swiping left or right.
“It’s pure laziness. Get off your ass and go to a bar or coffee shop and spark up a conversation with someone, it’s not that hard,” Rob said. Although Nate agreed that more students should meet people face-to-face, the college senior also said, “I think it’s an okay way to look for love, but dating apps shouldn’t be the only way to do it. If there is a chance to shoot your shot with someone you know or are familiar with that you think is interested in you in real life, then do that. I think is way better than blind dating and leaving your love to a swipe of a profile. Seriously though, I could never completely trust dating apps.”
A nearby student overheard the two young men and came over to join the conversation. Khyla Gabrielle, a sophomore at Georgia State, stated, “I have to disagree with you both on that. I don’t think that it’s pure laziness. People like me who have social anxiety rely on dating apps. That’s literally the only way that I can meet people who I want to date. I actually met my boyfriend of two years on Bumble.”
A recent study published in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, actually confirmed Khyla’s opinion that dating apps can ease the pressure off people dealing with social anxiety. However, physiologists warn that the apps can also backfire and lead to more loneliness, isolation and an increase in social phobias.
Although online dating has been around for decades — the first online dating site was registered in 1995 — dating apps really gained popularity with the 18–24 demographic in 2009 with the launch of Grindr, the principal mobile-first dating platform. Usage really ramped up when Tinder launched in 2012.
Tinder has experienced almost unparalleled success in the app world with its simplicity of use and unique integration of gaming and dating (Tinder was the top grossing app across all categories in 2018). In fact, one survey found that 75% of adults aged 18–24 use or have used Tinder. However, apps like Bumble, happn, hater, Hinge, and Coffee Meets Bagel have increased in popularity with college students.
A relatively new app, Friendsy, is called the Tinder for college kids. A college email address is required to sign up, and some of the filters are college-inspired, such as your major. Some college users complain that the app is brutal because, once you swipe right, it directly asks whether you are interested in dating the person, being friends, or merely hooking up.
Not only is selecting the right dating app important, but college students also highlighted the importance of the dating profiles. Hour upon hour is spent picking out the right photos and creating catchy bios.
Students had varying opinions about what they think makes a catchy bio or what makes them want to swipe left, or a hard right. Abdullah Uwais, a senior at Savannah College of Art and Design, or SCAD, said that “If a girl writes her aspirations and goals down in her bio. I dig that.” SCAD junior, Nicole Carter, said that, “If a guy puts 4/20 friendly and or claims that he’s an asshole and that my mom wouldn’t approve of him. S — — like that makes me think he’s just trying too hard and honestly has me sick to my stomach.”
Elsie Vasquez, a junior at Georgia State, had a different view about the importance of profiles. According to Vasquez, “In all honesty, I don’t really look at bios, I feel like it’s just a waste of time really. I kind of just wait to see what they say when they first talk to me and if it’s something that catches my eye, we will go on from that.”
Graziadaily.co.uk conducted a survey on the most popular profiles that attract women. The results revealed that a woman swipes right when the guy’s picture is outdoors. Apparently, that demonstrates that he’s adventurous. The study revealed that women find profiles of men flaunting their physiques unappealing. Men, however, swipe right on women in bikinis, and find group photos unappealing because they are unsure of the woman’s identity.
Interestingly, despite the popularity of the use of dating apps among college students, there is also a stigma attached to their use. Female students do not want to be known as a Tinder girl, and there is a less than flattering term for college guys who are viewed as serial daters on Tinder. Also, there have been no significant studies to determine whether these apps can actually lead to long-term relationships.
But, whether you are a seasoned user or simply testing the waters, remember that when using these dating apps, safety comes first, Mashable.com, offers the following common sense advice for college users: (One) Do not share personal information too quickly; (Two) Share information about dates with friends; (three) do not construct a relationship fantasy after two dates; (four) Do not give too much credit to the contents of a profile; (five) do not get bogged down by the details, such as what movies, books, restaurants he or she likes; (six) fight the urge to go crazy over the pictures; and, most importantly, (seven) trust your instincts.
