The advent of new technology, along with the increasing demands of everyday life, has paved the way for an influx of casual dating websites and apps, which have changed the way we connect, interact and date potential partners.
Flirting and dating used to mean catching the eye of a male or female from across the bar, finding common ground with a friend of a friend at a party, or attending an organized speed dating event. Yet it would seem that the excitement of meeting your date face-to-face is a distant memory.
Technology
Today, people are glued to their phones, tablets and computer screens. Flirting online without physical face-to-face interaction has become the norm, signaled by a new generation of singletons who use technology in all aspects of their life and know no different.
Today, it would seem that technology now plays an influential role in shaping the way we practice the fine art of flirting. By simply logging into an app, users can reach thousands of potential partners and flirt until their heart is content, without actually having to meet in person. The casual dating website maybe a concept that is bizarre to many, yet considered normal to the youth of today and even an older generation who have been quick to jump on the bandwagon.
Online Dating
Online dating is a phenomenon that has swept the nation and a craze that has hit the headlines for changing the way people connect with potential partners. Tinder, Plenty of fish, and Uniform Dating are just some of the UK’s most popular online dating sites. But the question is – have sites such as Tinder changed causal dating?
In a world that continues to be driven and influenced by new and evolving online platforms and apps, dating apps have become part of people’s lives, especially for those who wouldn’t have necessarily found the time to go out and meet someone. Using casual dating sites such as Tinder allows you to prowl your options, anywhere and at anytime.
Tinder
People use Tinder worldwide. Known as one of the most popular casual dating apps, it has proven influential and successful in matching thousands of people yet it still divides the nation when it comes to questioning whether it should replace traditional forms of casual dating.
Accessible to people of all ages, Tinder is both simple and easy to use, instantly connecting you with potential matches based on their sex, age and the area in which they live. Genius or what?
All you need to do is sieve through the profile pictures that appear on your screen based on your chosen preference – swipe right if you find them attractive and swipe left if you are not attracted to them. And you don’t even need to swipe – hit heart in the right corner if you find them attractive and x in the left corner, if you are not attracted to them. It’s kind of like online shopping but for your future partner!
A Waiting Game
The next step is simply a waiting game. If the person whose profile you swiped right does the same in return, you’ll receive a notification saying that it’s a match! Then all that is left to do is break the ice by messaging them online!
Getting started is quick and simple too. All you need to do is choose your best profile picture and write a small paragraph about yourself covering what you like to do in your spare time and preferences when it comes to that first date.
The hype surrounding the trend has even made the headlines. With surveys stating that we have become a nation of Tinder addicts, the question of whether Tinder has changed casual dating is certainly warranted. Some people are spending up to 2 hours a day, swiping in hope of finding a match!
Long Term?
As technology evolves at an increasing rate, it was always going to be inevitable that virtual online dating and flirting was going to make an appearance at some point. After all, most of our essential daily tasks we complete online ,so why not find a potential partner?
And believe it or not, more and more people are actually finding their lifelong partners online. But has Tinder changed causal dating? It would seem so. With over 1.2 billion Tinder users worldwide, its popularity speaks for itself and suggests that it has changed the way we connect, interact and date potential partners.
Love it or hate it, Tinder is here to stay.