Hookup culture.
It is a term that has come to define our generation. It is a term that influences the way millennials interact with each other, a term that has fostered the development of pre-conceived, wholly unrealistic expectations. Except, it’s not just a term; it is a lifestyle. Scratch that, it is the lifestyle every millennial is supposed to subscribe to. And what lies in the middle of this lifestyle? What is the beating (albeit empty) heart of this entire system? Tinder.
The rapid development of technology has led to a new generation of people with high expectations and extremely low attention spans, and what do you get when you combine these two qualities? Tinder. The app is perfectly designed to cater to the demands of those looking for constant validation-- in whatever form that might take: A quick swipe to the right, a flirtatious conversation, or even a one-night stand.
It seems like the perfect deal, and in most cases, it is. However, it has left a lot of people asking, “What ever happened to good, old-fashioned dating?” Hookup culture, although widely embraced and celebrated, completely cuts out the more traditional side of dating, like building up the nerve to approach someone, the courting, and actually talking at dinner. Sure, Tinder makes it more convenient to find a potential partner, but is it also making us (even more) narcissistic and emotionally withdrawn?
The option is just too convenient. Essentially, Tinder has managed to commercialize the one thing little (or maybe not-so-little) girls fantasize and dream about their whole lives: love. Essentially, you are choosing from a catalog of people and basing your entire decision on 3-5 of someone’s heavily edited, curated, carefully chosen photos.
But, it works. Tinder works, on every level. It is scary to think about, but it is literally targeted at millennials because of the way we approach dating. Well, not so much dating anymore, but rather, hooking up. It is catered for all our horny needs, and if two people are consenting adults and know what situation they’re getting into, why not curb your loneliness for one night? Or maybe two… possibly three, if you’re really lucky.
And that’s the thing. It’s the convenient option, but also the most short-lived one. Rare are the times when people actually transition into a relationship with someone they met on Tinder. It is a constant struggle between embracing the convenience and efficiency of dating apps and websites, but also condemning them for basically ruining our social interaction skills. Technology: the friend or foe? That is the eternal question.
So what happens when our generation is ready to settle down and actually date someone?
E-Harmony.
