It all started with a little app called Tinder. Well, not so little anymore — in just a year Tinder has grown 600 percent. Maybe you have even heard of the latest mobile dating services Hinge and Bumble? Tinder, Hinge, and now Bumble: what makes these dating apps so great?
For one, their match-making system is the quick on the draw. Online dating networks like ChristianMingle.com might require a more detailed profile to be ‘matched,’ these services give you a faster means. Simply swiping right (like) or left (dislike) is the method on all three of these mobile dating free-for-alls. It’s easy to have a brush with potential romance — Tinder doesn’t even require a picture.
With the release of Tinder Plus, the app now has a revenue model. But even before Tinder Plus it was valued at a horrendous $1 billion.
Holiday Brotip: Download Tinder upon returning to your hometown just to see which girls you went to high school with are still single.
— Brotips (@brotips) December 24, 2014
You can also encounter users (at least on Tinder) who are mainly using the app for its social networking capability. People (especially the attractive ones) can promote other social media channels — like Instagram — to build their online presence. Some users might swipe right with every single person they see on the service. This way they can build an exceptional amount of matches and potentially gain more attention on their other social channels. This is a tactic that could work on any of these mobile dating platforms.
Tinder even took a clue from Snapchat and released a ‘moments’ feature in June of 2014. You can send or receive, photos from your matches and choose to swipe right to let them know you ‘liked’ the photo. After swiping you cannot view the photo again. More potential for naughtiness?
But who are Tinder’s competitors, and what do they offer other than quick matchmaking?
Men don't generally have to be afraid of being harassed online or in real life. This is every day for women.
— Bye Felipe (@bye_felipe) November 19, 2014
Tinder co-founder Whitney Wolfe — who sued Tinder (and got an undisclosed settlement) for sexist mistreatment — recently started the dating service Bumble. The service is atrociously similar to Tinder (as is her right as one of Tinder’s inventors).
The exception is that the female must initiate conversation first. Fitting, since Wolfe was a victim of misogyny at Tinder. However, this distinguishing feature might also make the app more hetero-normative and unappealing to LGBT users. Another difference is if no conversation is initiated within 24 hours your match “disappears forever.” Bumble’s time-sensitive and female-centric features separate it from being a Tinder clone.
Why You Should Ditch Tinder For Hinge http://t.co/7zZikmKiIe
— Justin McLeod (@LnchPd) March 20, 2014
