Internet Dating: Because College Campuses Aren’t Enough
The cafe, the library, the lounge, classes: There are a seemingly endless amount of spaces and opportunities to meet new people, socialize with friends, and find potential romantic interests at Pace. Yet, with the accessibility and comfort of smart phones, we find ourselves swiping right and left, day after day, looking for everything from a one-night hookup to a long term relationship.
The prospect of meeting the right person face to face manages to sound so simple and simultaneously so daunting, resulting in our reliance on apps like Tinder and Bumble. Has our generation really regressed so much that we aren’t capable of forming meaningful relationships without the buffer of initial guaranteed attraction that Tinder provides? Or is the dating app craze just not as widespread as it may seem?
A look at user data from these apps offers insight into the rise of them, as well as possible reasons why younger generations are so reliant on them. According to a study conducted by Pew Research Center, the amount of 18–24 year olds using dating apps like Tinder and Bumble has just about tripled from 10% in 2013 to 27% today. 38% of Tinder’s total users, an estimated 50 million, is composed of 18–24 year olds. This is likely due to the influx of smart phones and the easy accessibility that comes along with them, though it could be more than that.
A study done by ABODO reveals that 40.3% of dating-app-using college students would actually prefer to meet a potential partner/date through mutual friends, 16.6% would prefer meeting solely by chance, 38.9% would prefer mutual interests, and only a minuscule 4% actually prefer to find dates through apps like Tinder and Bumble. If only a small percentage of app users actually prefer using these apps for romantic endeavors, then why do college-age adults make up a large percentage of users?
In an attempt to better understand the reasons behind the rise and appeal of dating apps, data needed to be collected. I surveyed a sample of students at Pace in order to see exactly where we fall in the rising culture that is internet dating dependency.
I spoke to 42 different students across campus to get some answers. Of the 42 I surveyed, 71% say they do not find it easy to approach someone he or she finds attractive in common spaces on campus.
Additionally, 29% claim to have met past or current significant others through Tinder/Bumble, and a like 29% claim to have met past or current significant others through mutual friends. A similar 30% have not had a relationship since arriving at college or have a long distance partner, with relationship being defined as a monogamous partnership: No hookups, things, or other.
“I don’t think it’s a generational problem, really,” said Carrie Brautigam, a freshman at Pace who admits to using Tinder for entertainment as well as for potential dates. “Its probably always been scary to approach someone you find attractive. It’s just nice now that we have apps to use when we’re not brave enough to walk up to someone in person.”
LendEDU, an online marketplace for student loan refinancing, asked 9,761 millennial college students about why they use Tinder. In an interesting discovery, it was revealed that, while only 72% of respondents admit to having used Tinder at some point, 44% say they use it for “confidence-boosting procrastination.”
Within the group of students I spoke to, 74% said they found these apps to be a definite ego boost. Valeria Perez, a freshman at Pace, admits to using Tinder mostly as a joke or to pass time, but also finds it to be a confidence booster. “Matching with someone who you personally think is attractive makes you feel good about yourself in a strange way,” she says.
So maybe what it boils down to isn’t that we as college students aren’t capable of putting themselves out there and meeting people in person, rather that we are worried about the outcome if we do? The additional satisfaction that comes with getting a match plays a role in the prevalence of these apps as well.
An interesting factor of using dating apps as a college student comes into play when other students from your school pop up in the deck of potential dates.
“I met my ex on Tinder and he also goes to Pace,” says Liz Carroll, a senior. “I don’t exclusively match with people who go to Pace as well, but it’s kind of nice to match with someone who does. Then you know you’ll be able to see that person relatively often if you do form a relationship.”
The convenience of dating apps is substantial, and their popularity is not fleeting. While there are countless reasons and explanations for why one might sign up for Tinder/Bumble/etc., at the end of the day, their popularity and usage is not the downfall of love and meaningful connections as we know them. Along with the change brought on by the constant modernization and ever evolving facets of our society, we as individuals must also change and mold to fit the culture.
There’s nothing wrong with using an app to aid in the process of finding a relationship, and overworked, stressed out college students who don’t have a lot of free time on his or her hands can relish in the convenience that comes with each and every swipe.
