A guide to TinderU, Tinder’s latest college feature
Sarah Allam | Illustration Editor
Finding a partner can be done in a snap — or, a swipe. In the digital age, social media has increasingly influenced how we interact, and how we date.
Tinder has upped the ante and introduced its revolutionary new feature for college dating: Tinder U.
Tinder is largely credited with transforming how people date. But after some users raised concerns about the actual ages of their matches and lack of compatibility, Tinder introduced a college-centric version of its initial app.
Tinder U targets college students who want to connect with students on their campus and at nearby schools — whether people are looking for a coffee date or a study partner with benefits.
Users need a valid .edu email address to sign up. Once they’re in, the app lets them swipe, match and message as usual.
Anna Henderson | Digital Design Editor
Tinder U has the potential to create a more connected campus community. Plenty of students would more likely meet up with someone they’ve already matched and chatted with online than approach a random student they’ve seen around campus but haven’t spoken to before.
The platform would be convenient “not only for romantic relations, but for education, social and casual relationships with local peers,” said Adianna Williams, a sophomore dual student in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and Martin J. Whitman School of Management.
Kaithlyn Atty, a sophomore information studies major, isn’t as onboard.
“I think students want to separate their personal and professional life,” Atty said. “This app would be controversial and uncomfortable.”
It’s ultimately up to students to decide how to use the new feature. It can build a greater networking system, but also comes with the stigma of the app and its hookup reputation.
Whether you’re more interested in using social media to find your match or to make friends, the power is in the hands of the user. Students should do what’s best for them, and to be safe when using it.
Safety and consent is something we can all swipe right on.
Published on September 3, 2018 at 8:35 pm
