Tinder: an app discovered by many during their college years used for casual dating, among other things. A picture of someone appears on the app, you can further look into their profile if you might be interested, swipe right if you're interested or swipe left if you aren't interested. Simple concept. Quick and easy enough to casually do in class when your professor gets a tad boring.
Though Tinder is not new to college students, there are some unspoken rules that really, really need to be said. Here are just a few thoughts from college girls on the do's and don'ts of Tinder:
1. If your pictures are only group pictures, I will automatically assume you are the ugliest in the group and swipe left. Please post at least one selfie so I know who I am dealing with here.
2. If you are old enough to be using this app, please no mirror selfies. No one above age 13 should be posting those. Immediate swipe left. ***If you know the tindee, and he is indeed attractive, take into account the fact that he is an adult and still posting mirror selfies. Likely not the best guy.
3. Dogs are always a good boost to your profile, but can only help so much. Likely swipe right, but no guarantee.
4. Certain tattoos in certain places are a hard left swipe. (We don't really dig guys with their exes names tattooed on them, for example).
5. Be cognitive of your selfies. I want to see your face. Your entire face. Not only selfies with sunglasses on. Please, I am begging you to look not as cool in just one picture. Profiles with no selfies without sunglasses: automatic swipe left.
6. Find someone you know? Great! Sometimes it is funny to swipe right on them just for kicks and giggles, a mutual acknowledgement of the fact you're both on Tinder. A right swipe from a good friend does not mean they are secretly in love with you and you should make a move.
7. Children are cute, yes we get it. Your cousin, niece, nephew, godson, goddaughter, neighbor is freaking adorable. However, your own kid, not so much. Please specify if the kid in your picture is yours or not. Good with kids is likely a right swipe. Has kids is a quick and easy left swipe.
8. If you are in a fraternity on campus, I need to know which one. It helps determine which way I swipe.
9. No car pictures. I get it, you're insecure in your manhood and your car makes you feel manly and tough. I'm on the app to find a guy, not a car. Left swipe.
10. Recent pictures only will help you get a right swipe. No one needs to see your high school senior pictures when you're 21. Nor am I interested in your Bieber hair from way back when. That's what #throwbackthursday and #transformationtuesday are for.
11. Include your graduation year in your bio. Are you 23 and a freshman? 20 and graduating? These are important things to consider when swiping.
12. Don't post lots of pictures with different girls. Awww, you love your momma and sister, that's sweet. You with five different girls who clearly are not related to you? This makes you look like a tool. No one likes a tool. Don't be a tool and get more right swipes.
13. A little smile goes a long way. Trust me, I understand RBF as much as the next girl, but at least make an effort here. Girls want to eventually up their insta games from someone they swipe right on. So, smile in at least one picture.
14. Make your bio funny. Be original. This is your chance to show us why (other than your model pictures) we should swipe right. This is also where you scare some people off and cause them to swipe left. Write your bio carefully.
15. If you have pictures that include you wearing cargo shorts or cargo pants, that is an immediate swipe left. No questions asked. Cargos are not real pants. End of discussion.
16. Add some variety in your pictures. Show us what your hobbies are and what you're interested in. All selfies or bro group pictures are a swipe left. I want to see some personality.
17. Using the same picture twice is a hard pass. I will swipe left so fast. You really thought no one would notice you included it twice? Woah, you included a group picture and then a cropped it to have just you and included that, too? We aren't stupid.
18. Stop with the super likes. It is a little creepy and uncomfortable. If you are that desperate, it's probably going to a no from me. Left swipe.
By no means is this a comprehensive list, but just a few tips and tricks to help you get by. We all know why you're actually on Tinder, so let's help each other out. As one of my roommates put it so perfectly, I'm only here for the free meals.
