Forming app-based relationships

By: Olivia Wile
Twitter: o_wile
Email: wileo@findlay.edu

College is arguably the best time to meet new people. During freshman year and beyond, students step into a whole new world surrounded by individuals with different backgrounds, morals, and thought processes.

In the midst of growing themselves, college students are bound to gravitate towards those who share similar interests, ideals, and, of course, those who attract them.

I’ll go ahead and tackle the elephant in the room in saying the University of Findlay has a not-so-great male to female ratio. According to U.S. News’ Best Colleges ranking system, as of 2017, UF is made up of 64 percent females and 36 percent males.

This could pose some problems if you are among those females looking for a significant other. However, never fear, Tinder is here.

I say this jokingly, as, personally, I do not have a Tinder account. I do, however, know many people that do have Tinder, along with a new social media app called Bumble.

For those who do not know, Tinder is a location-based app that encourages communication between mutually interested users. The app gives users the option to “dislike,” “like,” and “super like” other users’ profiles.

According to a New York Times’ survey, “while 30 percent of men who are not dating online say it is ‘challenging to commit,’ only 9 percent of male Tinder users say they find it difficult to maintain a committed relationship.”

Although it will never be my first choice to meet a potential significant other, one of my friends from back home is currently on month four in his relationship with a girl he met on Tinder. I also have friends at UF who frequently use the app. This prompted me to question if healthy relationships truly can form as a result of Tinder. So, I asked a couple UF students how they feel about the infamous hook-up app.

Sophomore marketing major Trent Williams brings up the point that Tinder’s location services are useful. “I feel like it’s a good way to find things to do when you’re traveling,” he said.

Healthcare Management major Reagan Lutz has a different outlook on the app.

“So, Tinder, I think, is not bad. I feel like its beneficial if you’re using it for the right reasons,” she said. But I think you need to be really picky when you use it, you have to be really real about it.”

Lutz also brings up the point that you cannot hide behind the app if you are truly looking to make it work with someone. “You have to make sure you put your real pictures in it, because if you don’t they’re going to get a false sense of reality and then you’re going to get your feelings hurt.”

While Tinder can be used to meet new people in different places, it poses its challenges when trying to form an actual relationship. From the sounds of it, while it’s important to air with caution in seeking out Mr. or Mrs. Right, it can be done.

If I were looking for a partner, though, I’m not so sure I would prefer to discover them through an app.