Tinder is the modern-age cupid, only, it is digital and can do a lot more for you than the traditional, arrow-shooting cherub. It has transfigured the workings of the dating microcosm in so many ways! Going to a bar, and walking up to a stranger to score a date, though fun, is now passé. Today, all you need to do is sign up on a dating app, and begin filtering a zillion profiles, right from the comfort of your home. You decide who you wish to talk to or meet up with. No stress!
What is Tinder?
Unless you live like a human-hermit, you’d perhaps be familiar with Tinder. But to delve a little more into its background, Tinder was established inside Hatch Labs, in the year 2012. It is basically a location-based app that enables you to like or dislike profiles of other users and begin a conversation in case of a match (i.e. when both parties like each other). Sean Rad, Jonathan Badeen, and Justin Mateen, are all the people responsible to bring this app into the market. So if Tinder ever brings any value to your life, you know who to thank. The main impetus behind Tinder was their belief that people felt more comfortable approaching someone if they knew that the intention was mutual. This assuages the stress associated with talking face-to-face with a stranger, especially for introverts. Another stimulus is that traditional dating methods are mostly limited to friends of friends and dating apps could help expand this circle. As far as Tinder stats are concerned, it is reported that there are a total of about 1.6 billuon swipes in a day, with over 26 million matches per day, and 1.5 million dates within a week. The app has received a user-rating of 4/5 stars on both, the App Store and the Google Play Store.
How Does It Work?
Tinder has a very controversial modus operando. In case you’re not aware, it works on the “hot or not” model where users are supposed to either swipe right (like) or swipe left (pass) a profile based on a picture. Of course, you can also click on a profile to read their bio and interests, but only a handful of users actually take the time to do that. Aside from the user’s picture, you also get to see details such as their name, location, interests, and age. Users are also given the option of integrating their Instagram accounts with their Tinder accounts to skip the process of adding photos manually and get to know the person better. You can also see whether you share any mutual friends with them, since Tinder makes use of Facebook to allow access to their services. Chatting is possible when a person you swiped right on, has also swiped right on you; meaning, both parties match.
Tinder requires minimum effort from the user’s end while promising to offer quick results in return. That said, dates don’t take place on their own and will require some effort from your side to take things forward. Some people tag its entire concept as superficial and shallow; while others are of the opinion that it is super convenient. No matter how you see it, the fact remains that Tinder is a mighty popular app that actually works.
Who is Tinder for?
Anyone and everyone who is above the age of 18 and is looking to date, can use Tinder. You could be seeking a casual date, or a meaningful relationship, a one-night stand, or just someone to hangout with in a new city; that is your personal choice. But you must know that Tinder mostly serves as an app for “hooking-up”, or at least that is the image because majority of the users are men who aren’t looking for commitment. Having said that, there are plenty of couple who have found love/life-partner using this pliant app. Many people also see it as an opportunity for business networking. Furthermore, one could also be on the app to look for people with similar interests and passion in order to undertake activities in that particular arena (for example, finding a travel partner). Personally, I’ve come across tons of users who announce their reason for being on Tinder, right on their bio. This saves the time and effort taken to filter profiles and get a better match.
Availability & Supported Devices:
Tinder has an impressive reach. Currently, it is available for download in about 196 countries across the globe. That’s an extremely long list compared to some other dating apps. As far as device compatibility is concerned, you can get Tinder officially on both, iOS and Android phones.
The Pricing Structure & Features:
The good news is that you can download and use Tinder for absolutely free. The bad news is that the free version has limited features. If you want to get access to Tinder’s additional features such as unlimited swipes, super likes, boosts, and rewind, you’ll have to pay a monthly subscription fee. As of now, Tinder offers three subscriptions –
Tinder Plus –
Tinder Plus is a superior version compared to the free one. It offers tons of interesting features like unlimited rewinding in case of an accidental left swipe, greater profile control, 5 super likes a day, unlimited right swipes, and swipe around the world. It costs $9.99/month or you can opt to pay on a half-yearly, yearly basis and get huge discounts. Unfortunately, Tinder charges a little extra if you’re over 30 years old. Users of 30 years of age or more can get the Tinder Plus for $19.99/month.
Tinder Gold –
Tinder Gold is an even more premium version of Tinder which allows you to see who has already liked you before you swipe on them, you also get other features including unlimited likes, 5 super likes a day, swiping around the world, and something called “skip the line”. Skip the line pushes users’ profiles to the top for 30 minutes; this increases the chance of more matches.
Tinder Select (Not Available For Everyone)–
Tinder Select is a “members only” version of the app which caters to the elite users. It is commonly used by celebrities and VIPs for dating and networking. However, it is not available to common man. In fact, the company chooses to keep a low profile about this feature altogether.
Boosts –
Now, this one is not exactly a monthly subscription, but rather, a standalone feature. If you opt for either of the three subscription plans mentioned above, you get a certain number of boosts for free. However, if you wish to stick to the free version and would still like your profile to be seen at the top to get more matches, you can purchase boosts separately.
Super Likes –
Similar to boost, Super likes are also part of the package when subscribed to either Plus or Gold. However, you can also get them separately on the app to make yourself stand out from the crowd.
The Downsides:
As mentioned earlier, Tinder’s premium versions are slightly more expensive for people belonging to a certain range of age group. Though this is morally wrong and has seemed to upset a vast segment of users, Tinder justifies is by saying that they offer lower prices to youngsters simply because they cannot afford to spend much on dating services. Moreover, you might have heard several users, mostly men, complain of how they rarely get a match. That’s probably because Tinder’s match algorithm is extremely poor, relying chiefly upon profile pictures (the app is appearance-based). That said, your chances of getting matches will improve if you put in efforts to market yourself well via your bio. Also, you must keep in mind that the number of men using Tinder is way higher compared to women.
How to Sign-up?
If you’re sure about joining the Tinder community but don’t know where to begin, just follow the steps mentioned below: For Android: For iOS: Tip – Recently, we have also shared how you can use Tinder without Facebook.
Pros Of Tinder:
Available in over 196 countries Easy-to-use interface Super fast sign-up process Free (limited features) A colossal active user-base
Cons Of Tinder:
Appearance-based Poor matching algorithm Pricing model varies depending upon age Cannot be accessed without a Facebook account
Conclusion:
Overall, Tinder is quite a handy app that you can use to widen your social circle, find a date, and if lucky, even find the love of your life. However, bear in mind that it does come with several drawbacks. Some of the features are quite pricey and like we stated earlier, swipes are purely based on your level of attractiveness. That aside, you can always up your game by tweaking your bio and striking interesting conversations. Though there are a great number of decent users on this app, be prepared to encounter the weirdest of people! Fun is guaranteed!
