Nerd Chick Adventures: Find your Valentine on Tinder
Tinder is the fastest-growing online dating app on the planet.
With over 50 million users in 196 countries, the company estimates it's contributed to more than 10 billion matches. While a "match" may not lead to true love, Tinder can still be a great resource when you're looking for romance. Here are some ways Tinder can help in your search for your dream date.
Online dating has gotten a bad rap in the past and Tinder is no exception. Especially among young people, Tinder is perceived as a place full of people just looking for a casual hookup. While you can certainly find a fling through the app, there's still plenty of opportunity for those looking for a real connection. Pew Research says that 1 in 10 Americans are now online dating and roughly 5 percent of us in committed relationships have met our significant others online.
How does Tinder work? When you download the app to your phone it locates you via GPS and uses some of the information you've shared on Facebook to create your Tinder profile. Your first name, age, and pages you've "liked" on Facebook are included. Choose your six favorite photos to share with the public, and you can opt to include your education and occupation. Make sure you complete the bio (keep it short and sweet) to give other users a glimpse of who you are and what you’re looking for.
Once you've set up your profile, Tinder finds potential matches near you. Narrow the results by age and distance. As you scroll through profile pictures potential matches, swipe left when you're not interested. If you see a profile that sparks your interest, you can swipe right to "like" the profile. If the other person “swipes right” on yours, too, it's a "match" and you can start messaging each other.
The basic features of Tinder are totally free. It's easy to set up and easy to use. It has the feel of a game as you swipe past and stop on people you're interested in. Your initial connection is based on a mutual attraction, so it feels as natural as it would if you were out in public and saw someone you were attracted to. This time you know it's mutual because they can only message you if you've "liked" their profile. In other words: no unsolicited emails!
There can be some drawbacks. Tinder is dominated by the young (85 percent of users are aged 18-34), making it intimidating for mature users. There are lots of people seeking a casual relationship, though in a recent Huffington Post article, psychologist and relationship therapist Dr. Antonio Borrello found that “almost 60 percent of all women who wrote a narrative in their profile included a reference to NOT wanting a hookup.” It can be addictive - just one more swipe! - and it can be a time sink if you endeavor to respond to every match. Here are some ways to assure you find someone you really connect with.
Photos are important
Let's face it, an app like this is mostly visual. You definitely want to put your best face forward. According to a University of Iowa study, natural photos are considered more attractive, and feel more trustworthy. Make sure your pictures are good quality, flattering shots of you. Your secondary pics can contain other people, but make sure your primary photo is of you alone. You don't want your potential date to have to guess which person you are in the picture. Try to mix in photos of you exhibiting your interests and doing a bunch of different things. Do not post provocative or nude images if you want serious matches.
Complete your bio
Skipping your bio loses you the opportunity to tell your potential match about yourself. Women especially are unlikely to "swipe right" on a profile that's missing a bio. No need to go overboard with your description. Try to make it intriguing and be honest about what you're looking for in a match. Describe yourself as concisely as possible, highlighting your best traits without sounding like a braggart. Avoid negativity.
Make yourself verifiable
Include links to your social media profiles. Connecting to Instagram, for example, allows your profile to refresh automatically with up-to-date images. It shows a potential match that you're the same person all over the 'net. Your date will more readily trust your profile if they can verify it.
Be smart about the first contact
Most people on Tinder are chatting with multiple people at a time; they don't have time for boring connections. Opening with only "Hi," or "How are you?" is sure to get you shut down. Open a potential match's profile before you strike up a conversation and give him or her a specific comment about it. Point out a commonality that you have: "Your dog is so cute! I love dogs." Try to keep it light and specific so the person knows you're actually interested in getting to know them.
Tinder Plus is an optional subscription available for $9.99/month. It includes the Rewind feature which allows you to give someone a second chance if you passed them by too quickly. You’ll gain four additional daily Super Likes - the ability to show a someone you're very interested and highlight your profile to them (they still have to "swipe right" to start up a conversation).
Regular users only have one Super Like a day. Tinder Plus users also get a weekly “boost" that makes you the top profile in your area for 30 minutes, and Tinder Plus users can scroll the app ad-free. Frequent travelers may also appreciate that Tinder Plus users can connect with users all over the world, not just your immediate area.
Nerd Chick Adventures is written by Andrea Eldridge and Heather Neal from Nerds On Call, an onsite computer and laptop repair company in Redding. They can be reached at nerdchick@callnerds.com.