If you're single and looking to mingle, you may have heard of free "dating" app, Tinder. The app puts you in touch with other (hopefully) single people in the area, but only those with whom you have a mutual physical attraction.
When you download the app it will connect to your Facebook account, allowing you to choose as many as five photos to display on your Tinder profile. You can then add a short tagline. Select whether you're looking for males, females or both; choose an age range; and how far you're willing to travel for love.
After your profile is complete -- or as complete as the app allows -- begin your search. The app will show you the people in your area one-by-one. You can view their five photos, tagline and any shared friends you might have on Facebook. One problem is that many photos have multiple people, so you never know whose profile you're actually viewing.
From there, you must make a decision: yes or no. If your answer is no, flip their photo to the left or click the red "x," and you'll never see it again. What I like about this app is there are no hurt feelings because no one will ever know that you rejected them.
If your answer is "yes," click the green heart. You may get the same result: nothing. But, if you and another person both say "yes" to one another, the app will notify you of the match.
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Once a match is made, you have the ability to message each other. In my opinion, this is when it gets awkward. What do you say to someone you know nothing about? In person, you can compliment someone on his outfit or hairstyle or make small talk. That doesn't work as well in an app. If you do decide to talk to your mystery matches, you'll find that the in-app messaging device is quite glitchy. You'll either need to keep resending your messages until they finally go through, or swap phone numbers and revert to traditional texting.
A couple of my friends have actually met people through the app and gone on real dates; but, after reading many reviews and speaking with others, it seems my friends are the exception.
In all reality, Tinder is a "hot or not" game rather than a dating app.
Maki covers Arts & Entertainment and Life & Style for the Herald and can be reached at (701) 780-1122, (800) 477-6572, ext. 1122; or jmaki@gfherald.com .
