People are calling it the world’s biggest icebreaker, the “Hot or Not” app, the improved Facemash or the “hookup app.” It’s theapp that originated in Southern California and has now gone global, sweeping college campuses everywhere: Tinder.

This smartphone application acts like online speed dating, pinpointing users’ current locations and allowing them to find matches within a 10–100 mile radius. It links directly with their Facebook account, tapping into their photos, interests, friend list and age to provide users with mutual friends and shared interests on their Tinder profile.

Jaime Castillo, 29, a doctoral student in the Counseling and Human Resources Department at Syracuse University, thought the app was a riot. He described it as a “virtual bar.”

“If anything, it saves the guy a drink,” Castillo said.

When two people like each other’s photos, a match is made. From there, the match gets dropped into the users’ virtual baskets, and they can chat them up whenever they wish to plan their next move.

If users dislike someone, that person never finds out. It also doesn’t inform users on who’s giving them the “hot” vote.

There’s no written profile section under photos either. It’s a physical, attraction-based app.

For users, the suspense of waiting to see if the person users deem as “hot” likes them back is an element of attraction for the app. Occasionally, there is a matching stalemate where neither person initiates a conversation.

The social media director of the application, Alexa Matten, said the company would be happy to hear individuals actually follow through with the app’s purpose and end up meeting with the person on the other side of the screen.

“People, college kids especially, don’t know how to approach each other. Now you don’t have to. Everyone wants a relationship. This makes getting one 100 times easier,” Matten said.

She said the Tinder team designed the app in the hopes of eliminating the awkwardness of walking up to someone while also creating as many relationships as possible.

Cara Levine, 30, a doctoral student in the same counseling center as Castillo, explained that there’s a similar service app called Grindr, which caters to gay men connecting for sexual purposes. She wondered if sexuality could be summed up in a picture.

“College is your time to explore and expand,” Levine said. “This app seems to compress that opportunity.”

There’s still a level of concern an app like this attracts. Levine and Castillo both agreed that if they accidently “liked” one of their potential clients or master students, there is an immediate risk for an ethical violation.

Bill Ward, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications professor and social media guru, expressed another set of issues – sexual harassment, abuse or diseases.

“Tinder is certainly igniting a flame of interest, but it could be quickly extinguished with real-world consequences around personal safety and risk,” Ward said. “Tinder could be the next social media fad to get flamed if people end up suffering negative consequences like rape, abuse, stalking, STDs or pregnancy.”

Despite the risks, students continue to interact with the application.

Carolyn Blackburne, a sophomore broadcast and digital journalism major, says the application shines a positive light on single life.

Said Blackburne: “Don’t get me wrong, I’m in a relationship with a great guy and I couldn’t be happier, but I can’t lie that even Tinder makes being single look like fun again.”

Published on February 13, 2013 at 12:53 am

Contact Laura: lcanders@syr.edu