I decided to conduct a social experiment, and see what would happen if I created a Tinder profile. Everyone was so hyped up on this app that I had to give it a go for myself.
I made my profile in seconds thanks to Facebook, Instagram, and Tinder having the capability to link up, and I started getting matches almost instantaneously. Since this was a test, I decided to open my profile up to everyone that I could, all ages and genders. My “looking for” section included both men and women, ages 18-55+, and up to 100 miles away.
Tinder allows you to swipe right for people you like, swipe left for people you aren’t interested in, and “super like” those who you really want to know. Unfortunately, the “super like” option is easy to hit by mistake, so I used all of my “super likes” almost instantaneously. The matches began to pop up, and I noticed four types of people that I encountered on this app.
(The following are screenshots from actual tinder conversations I had this week.)
1. The Inappropriate from the Get-Go...who has no manners nor class
You know who I’m talking about; the people who begin the conversation with a lewd suggestion or question, rather than a “Hello, how are you today?” These people are usually looking for laughs, or just to hook up, and spend most of their time trolling the internet for clever ways to begin a conversation. They’re usually younger girls and guys, and want to see how far they can push the conversation, and send you strange, vastly inappropriate Snapchats and messages, these types of people aren't looking for anything but a five-minute romp around in the sheets.
How to Deal:
Unmatch them, or ignore them. Or talk to them if you need a laugh. If this kind of person makes you uncomfortable, Tinder may not be the best platform for you.
2. The Super-Obsessive...who refuses to leave you alone no matter what #CantTakeAHint
This match seems nice, and normal, so you make the mistake of giving him or her your phone number, because texting is so much easier than opening the app. On Tinder, they seemed friendly and a nice conversationalist, and now you’re getting paragraph messages every second, intermingled with pictures of sunsets and videos of them messing around on their guitar. They want to hang out, and text you repeatedly telling you how much they can’t wait to meet you in person. When you ignore them, they text again, leading with Are you mad at me? and Wanna talk on the phone?
How to Deal:
My iPhone has the capability to block calls and texts from particular numbers, but I tried another approach with this one. I hinted for over 5 hours that I wasn’t interested in talking anymore, and then flat out told him that I was no longer interested in talking to him further. I haven’t heard anything since.
3. The Life Partner...who loves and cares about you after two days
This is the Tinder match who isn’t looking to hook up, or even just looking to go on a date, he or she wants to spend the rest of their life with you, their one true Tinder match. The want to know everything about you, from your favorite color to your life aspirations. Have you thought about our wedding? is a text you can expect. In the one week I was on Tinder, I came across three of these people. One even wanted to move with me to North Carolina and buy a house with land for our future adopted children to run around on.
How to Deal:
Run; run far and wide, as fast as you can. If you’re not looking for this kind of love, then block their number, unmatch them, and do not tell them where you life.
4. The Pal/The Normal People...who literally haven't set off any alarms yet (and might send over pizza)
There are a few people on Tinder who are legitimately looking for friends, or friends that could maybe someday be more. These people are usually kind, and wait a few days before asking to text you. They send you totally acceptable Snapchat’s, and aren’t afraid to joke around. These are the people who want to hang out and go on adventures, and don’t ask weird questions or bombard you with texts.
How to Deal:
Talk it up. Make a friend, plan a date; just don’t tell your mom that you might have found the one (see number 3.)
All in all, my Tinder experience was enjoyable. I didn’t get too many weirdos, and contrary to popular belief, Tinder has moved away from being purely a hookup site. For those people who are always on the go, and don’t want to meet their spouse in a bar or through friends, online dating platforms like Tinder are a viable option.
