Nowadays, apps are being created to satisfy all aspects of life, including the search for love. Bars, coffee shops and classes are no longer the only places where people are meeting potential romantic partners. Whether you’re looking for a serious relationship, a hookup or just a casual date, your smartphone is here to serve you.
“It’s crazy how the invention of smart phones and apps have changed the way people live their lives,” said Andrealiz Berrios-Mendez, a senior international business & marketing major at UT. “I never would’ve imagined college-age students relying on the Internet to find love, but there are so many dating apps out there that really do make it easier to find the exact kind of person you are looking for.”
Tinder
Tinder is an appearance-based dating app that connects with your Facebook profile to introduce the user to other singles close to them in age and location. The app simply displays photos of each person pulled from their Facebook pages and allows the user to “like” or “skip” the person based on whether or not they think they’re attractive. If the user “likes” a person who also happens to “like” their photo when they come across it, the app sets the two users up in a chatroom so that they can introduce themselves and get to know each other.
Alexis Klumb, a sophomore communication major at UT, started using Tinder for fun but actually ended up meeting her current boyfriend through it.
“I didn’t expect to actually meet someone on Tinder, but I do think it’s a good dating app,” Klumb said.
According to Klumb, the app is appealing because it doesn’t give out the user’s last name and allows for a laid-back way of meeting people. The only problem Klumb sees with it is that some people only join as a joke and don’t take it seriously.
OkCupid
OkCupid is a dating website and app that requires each member to create a profile for themselves, which involves uploading pictures and answering questions such as, “What is the most private thing you are willing to admit about yourself?” and others that may reveal something about the user’s personality. The site matches members with other profiles based on the way the user answers these questions, and the user can choose whether or not they are interested and want to send them a private message.
Pure
If you’re looking for a serious, committed relationship then Pure is definitely not the best option for you. Pure is a dating app focused more on finding a last minute hookup than an actual relationship. It exists solely to set people up with a “one night stand” mentality. The app is similar to Tinder in that the user is presented with a photo of someone and must decide whether or not they are interested in them based on their looks. The difference is that with Pure, when the user is matched up with someone, there is no expectation of getting to know each other through conversation. This app is solely meant for people looking to just hook up.
Lulu
Lulu is a website/app that is made for women only. In fact, men are not even able to enter the site. The app requires users to log in through their Facebook accounts to give the site access to their basic information, including the listed gender. Once on the site, the user can search for any guy that they are friends with on Facebook (their profiles are automatically created) and anonymously rate them in various categories such as appearance, humor, manners and commitment. If the user notes that you have hooked up with the person before, it allows them to rate the person based on kiss and sexual performance. Members can also create hashtags, both positive and negative, describing the guy in some way. The anonymous rating is then available for other girls to see; the guy will never be able to view his ratings.
“It’s pretty horrible for guys because we are not able to view what is said about us or even see our scores,” said Jasper Davis, a sophomore entrepreneurship, international business and management major. “You can always contact Lulu and have them delete your profile, but you can have one without ever signing up or using the app.”
Date My School
Date My School is a dating app created exclusively for college students or recent college alumni. Once the user selects their college or university, the app allows them to browse through singles who either currently attend that school or are recent alumni. In order to join, the user must have an email address that ends in “.edu” to prove that they are a current student, or their name must show up in the alumni records to prove that they once were a student. The app also allows users to connect with people who share common interests.
“I think Date My School is a great app for college students because you don’t have to worry as much about the people you are talking to and meeting,” said Andrealiz Berrios Mendez, a senior international business and marketing major at UT. “Everyone is affiliated with your school so you feel more comfortable.”
Sonny Billotte can be reached at sonny.billotte@spartans.ut.edu
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