Defining your dating app

Illustration by Kimberly Johnston

That movie-esque coffee shop romance just isn’t quite what it used to be.

Falling into the constant routine of school and work, it’s only natural that the college student finds themselves dependent on dating apps in hopes of gaining some type of love connection. Although love doesn’t seem to be the outcome nowadays with the creation of the typical hook-up apps. With a variety of options to choose from, students need to be aware of the general dangers and scandalous choices throughout the App store.

TINDER: We’ve all heard of the infamous Tinder. The ease of sitting in your underwear and swiping through photos (right for romance, left for losers) has caught students by storm. The simplicity of posting brief taglines, interests and a picture has created dates at your disposal.

However, isn’t the lack of information (oh, and the fact they know your general location) a bit disconcerting? It has become a matter of who you are actually swiping for. With at least some idea of the person, a possible date makes sense, but when people are left with only a face, would they still risk meeting a stranger? A test done by three Brigham Young University said yes. After posting fake pictures and no information whatsoever, the students got over 70 guys to meet for a date, only to be stood-up.

Of course there are some people who have actually met for their long walks on the beach, but having some type of common sense while swiping their superficial judgement is quite important.

REVEALR: This not-so-famous app has given blind dating a whole new meaning. With the only requirements being a 20-second audio clip, age, name, location and a pixelated photo, this app gives those with a sultry voice (and, let’s be honest, a but-her-face) the chance to snag a hottie quick and easy.

It’s a good way of falling for someone based on personality, but it’s also a good way of having to say later on, “sorry, you sounded hotter in your audio clip.” It’s a good try, but it seems to be a bigger opportunity for disappointment rather than some fairy tale “You’ve Got Mail” love affair.

PLENTY OF FISH: “There are plenty of fish in the sea.” Yeah, yeah. This name-brand app offers much more information to users than other apps. With a variety of identifiers ranging from the typical “name, age, location,” POF also gives information about personality type, religion, etc. POF even offers a test about someone’s “hidden needs” in a relationship.

Although this seems safer because of the plethora of information, this could be breaching too far into the realm of too much information. Nobody, not even your year-long boyfriend is likely to know your ambition level, “hidden needs” and chemistry levels (whatever that is supposed to mean).

Meeting someone for the first time is supposed to be about learning the person, not knowing the name of their first pet and where they moved at the age of seven. Some information is crucial, but having their life record at hand is hitting the point of possible obsession.

Of course there are plenty more dating apps, from sex-craved hooligan connections to religious-based hook-ups, but the important thing to consider, regardless of gender or sexual orientation, is to be safe.

Falling into the ease of banging a brief bio just isn’t quite steady as dating a person.

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