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A spirit that is not afraid

Swiping for Love?

How dating apps have changed the way we date

Online dating has become more of a trend in the last 10 years and appears to be changing the way our generation dates entirely. From eHarmony and Zoosk to Tinder and Bumble, online dating has changed drastically over the years.

Traditionally, people would meet through work or mutual friends and be set up to go out on dates.

Now, meeting online is so effortless and quick because all it takes is a swipe to the right. This highlights the stigma behind online dating: no effort is involved.

We have been labeled as a “hook-up generation” since so many people go on apps just to meet people briefly and not actually start a relationship.

With Tinder, one of the most well-known dating apps with close to 50 million users signed up, there are so many opportunities for finding someone who could end up in your life forever. There is also the chance that, of those 50 million users, you could end up having several bad dates that'd lead you to retire from online dating.

This phenomenon is called “dating fatigue." It happens when you go on a series of bad dates and want to quit being online altogether, or when you start to feel like dating has become more of a job than an enjoyment.

The idea of dating fatigue has become more popular in recent years; not as many people are looking for relationships but just a fun night out with a new person.

Finding someone online can be difficult, and it can make the process even harder when people lie on their online profiles by making themselves out to be more successful or attractive than they really are. This can lead to matches that never should have happened and makes it harder for those seeking a serious commitment to find someone who shares that goal.

Apps like Bumble are looking to help people reach their goal of finding the relationship they desire by setting up regulations on the app about how long you have a match and who you can contact.

“I think online dating can be a really scary thing, but Bumble really has transformed the idea of online dating and has made it a safer place for women of all ages," said McKenna Moorhead, campus director for the app. "It's so cool because instead of boys reaching out to girls, girls have to reach out first. They have really found every way to make it a safe place for women to find love.”

Because of advancements like these, sites and apps have started to make online dating safer and more specified for the kind of relationship you desire. This has increased the demand for apps that have more detailed questions and has helped match people who have more in common.

Many of these sites are efficient and do have the motive of helping people find serious relationships. With the number of online users, it is easy to see why people target online sites as a place to find commitment. These apps have helped a variety of people across the globe in finding what they were looking for and continuing to better their technology to help this number rise.

Moorhead said that she is “really looking forward to expanding Bumble on Auburn's campus and breaking the stigma of online dating.”

With her focus and the help of others involved in these dating apps, the changes will continue and benefit plenty of people along the way looking for a significant other.


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