“Meet new and interesting people nearby” Tinder advertises. But what’s really interesting about this new way of dating is the emphasis on appearance.

If you swipe right to like and left to pass based on a profile primarily photo-based, then I’m left wondering if you’re passing on someone who might be right for you? The real question to ponder here is if Tinder is worthy of admiration or criticism for acknowledging how shallow we can be.

Swipe and by using just a few photos and a nonexistent or short bio, decide who you’ll choose to potentially spark a bond.

Match with someone and let the connection ignite.

Chat and let the bond grow or extinguish, depending on the interaction.

On the exterior, Tinder might appear to be shallow but it really depends on each individual. Ultimately this is a dating app surrounded by a growing hookup culture, so the intentions of the users will dictate how this app is perceived--whether that be shallow or not.

A recent study by Psychology Today found that there are actually thirteen motives for using this app--amusement, curiosity, to socialize, find love, ego boost, distraction, flirting, meet people with similar sexual orientation, pressured by someone to try it, communicate with locals while traveling, casual sex, forget about an ex, and just because it’s a popular thing to do.

Regardless of the motive, people are using this app and making connections, so the tenderness of Tinder is really up to you, but how tender of them to address our inherently shallow nature.