Online Dating: Better or Worse at Finding Compatibility
When Emily Mosser, 23, was looking for single men her age, her friend suggested she try Tinder. It’s a mobile dating app you can use on your phone. It uses GPS technology so you can see profiles of singles nearby. Mosser, a teacher working in Indianapolis, used the app for a month and met her current boyfriend. That was in 2013.
“I liked Tinder because the only way you ever matched up with a person was if it was mutually agreed upon,” she says.
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On Tinder, pictures of people appear, and with the swipe of a finger you can say "like" or "no thanks." The other person never knows if you don’t "like" or "reject" them. You only get notified if you both express interest. Then, you can send private messages or arrange a date all without swapping phone numbers.
“Once you became matched with someone, there was no pressure to do or say anything,” Mosser says.
As many as 11% of American adults have used an online dating site of some type, including Match, eHarmony, and OKCupid. Some sites use technology like GPS to match singles who are nearby, or video-chat features like FaceTime or Skype.
Not meeting potential dates through your friends? Online dating lets you branch out beyond your social circle as you search for a partner, says Paul Eastwick, PhD, assistant professor of human development and family sciences at the University of Texas in Austin.
Tinder and other apps like Hinge, JSwipe, and Grindr don't ask users to create detailed personal profiles with information on profession, body type, or political views. Profiles include only a few photos, age, and a short self-summary. The apps generate profiles from users’ Facebook pages. You can upload photos. Plus, you can filter matches based on gender, age, and distance.
This process may seem superficial, but singles waste less time poring over lots and lots of data, Mosser says. “Whereas most dating sites have that pressure-filled moment when you create a profile, Tinder is much more relaxed.”
She says it worked for her because she could use it to plan to meet up for a casual meal, drink, or movie. “Tinder works for busy people, because it is what you make of it,” she says.
“I liked Tinder because the only way you ever matched up with a person was if it was mutually agreed upon,” she says.
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On Tinder, pictures of people appear, and with the swipe of a finger you can say "like" or "no thanks." The other person never knows if you don’t "like" or "reject" them. You only get notified if you both express interest. Then, you can send private messages or arrange a date all without swapping phone numbers.
“Once you became matched with someone, there was no pressure to do or say anything,” Mosser says.
As many as 11% of American adults have used an online dating site of some type, including Match, eHarmony, and OKCupid. Some sites use technology like GPS to match singles who are nearby, or video-chat features like FaceTime or Skype.
Not meeting potential dates through your friends? Online dating lets you branch out beyond your social circle as you search for a partner, says Paul Eastwick, PhD, assistant professor of human development and family sciences at the University of Texas in Austin.
Cut to the Chase
Tinder and other apps like Hinge, JSwipe, and Grindr don't ask users to create detailed personal profiles with information on profession, body type, or political views. Profiles include only a few photos, age, and a short self-summary. The apps generate profiles from users’ Facebook pages. You can upload photos. Plus, you can filter matches based on gender, age, and distance.
This process may seem superficial, but singles waste less time poring over lots and lots of data, Mosser says. “Whereas most dating sites have that pressure-filled moment when you create a profile, Tinder is much more relaxed.”
She says it worked for her because she could use it to plan to meet up for a casual meal, drink, or movie. “Tinder works for busy people, because it is what you make of it,” she says.
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