Tinder is like Twitter for dating. Tinder is the fun way to connect with new and interesting people around you. Millions of Tinder matches across the world are being made every day. Some with great success — a straw poll of my own friendship circle shows three promising new relationships have blossomed from a fortuitous right swipe. But like anything that facilitates the meeting of two strangers, Tinder can be dangerous. The Ugly Truth Behind Tinder Dating App
When Tinder burst onto the dating scene, with its simple, clean, unthreatening interface, it was trumpeted as being “female-friendly”. Indeed, Tinder has succeeded where many other dating sites have failed: women have downloaded the program in droves.
Unlike sites where you have to complete a profile and describe the sort of mate you are looking for, Tinder can be downloaded straight to your phone and then links to your Facebook account, uploading profile shots and connecting you, via GPS, to people who are using the app nearby
How Does It Work
- You have 500 characters or less to tell possible dates what you’re all about.
- It’s like a catalogue of men or women available in your area
- You don’t have to engage in the conversation, just look at photos, and Swipe right to like or left to pass
- If someone likes you back, it’s a match!
- Chat with a match or snap a photo to share a Moment with all of your matches at once.
The Ugly Side Behind Tinder
Last week it was linked to the death of New Zealand tourist Warriena Tagpuno Wright, 26, who fell from a 14th-floor balcony belonging to a Gold Coast man, Gable Tostee, whom she is said to have met via the dating app.
It is not the first time dating applications have been linked to police investigations.
Earlier this year in Sydney, a 22-year-old man was charged with robbing two men at knifepoint on two separate occasions.
He is alleged to have used another social media dating app to lure them to late-night rendezvous.
And in the United States, a 22-year-old man from Louisiana was arrested last month and charged with raping a woman he met via Tinder.
The pair had arranged to meet at her apartment. He is accused of becoming angry when she rejects his sexual advances, slapping her across the face, and sexually assaulting her.
But women’s embrace of Tinder has led to its becoming a favourite new toy among men who appear not to like or respect women at all.
Tips to Date Safely
– Ladies, meeting new friends via an app, it’s cool and fast. But don’t forget predators also use the same app who are only after a sexual encounter and treat females like meat – sorry for being so direct, but it’s true and you should think twice before meeting with a stranger.
– Be cautious, and ALWAYS tell a friend where you are going
– SMS your friend before and after the date
– If you feel something is ‘off’ ALWAYS listen to your instinct and act
– You don’t have to be polite or be scared to hurt his/her feelings, if you feel uncomfortable don’t think twice. Leave.
– Don’t meet a stranger in the middle of nowhere
– Always meet in public, a bar, a pub or a busy place in the city
– Keep your phone on you, and dial 000 (Australia) for emergency
– Never leave your drink unattended
– Avoid drinking too much, and drink water between your alcohol intake
– Escape to the ladies to call a friend for rescue
– Statistics: Serial killers are mostly white, looking between 23 to 45 years
I don’t mean to scare you with this article, dating should be fun. So never forget the rule number one: safety first.
Image Credit: Deposit Photos
