T****r - one month on

Having shared some first impressions on using the dating app, time for some more observations and some advice for those considering using it. Supposedly, it is no longer a shame, but there is no guarantee you will not be stigmatised or categorised as looking for ONS* or FWB**.

Before you run Tinder, read a few articles how algorithms of Tinder work. In simple words, they drive which profiles will be shown to other users (if you are shown, you get chances to be selected), based on your relative attractiveness (how many users swipe you left and how many swipe you right) which is partly beyond your control and based on your behaviour patterns. Tinder scores highest moderately picky users. Those who swipe only right (to maximised odds of being paired up) and who swipe left too frequently (i.e. are to picky / selective looking for matches) are ranked lower.

Your attractiveness (which is partly under your control) depends on how well you invest in your profile. Uploading a few photos of you (which show how you really look like) and writing a summary of you boosts chances of drawing interest of other users. I have no idea what people who upload one picture and write nothing about themselves reckon on.

The biggest chances are upon creating a profile, so at the very beginning. At that time your choice of partners is the biggest – once you swipe somebody left or right, you do it irreversibly (unless you pay for a premium account). Also at that time your profile shows up most frequently to others users as a fresh one. After a week or two you may run out of potential partners, which is a reason many users delete their profiles and set them up anew.

Looking a somebody reasonable on an application which still is labelled as designed to look for casual sex resembles looking for a needle in a haystack. It takes luck, patience and reserve.

Tinder is definitely not for sensitive people. Apart from being exposed to online dating pathologies, you should bear in mind the percentage of people having problems with self (it pertains to both women and men) on Tinder is much higher than average.

Besides, I am not fond of online communication, which is should be just a substitute of face-to-face communication if for some reason you cannot see a fellow man. Tinder can be good to gain exposure to potential partners which is limited in daily, repetitive life, but once your conversation goes well for a while (to be precise, for around 4 – 8 days), time to meet offline – so is my principle.

So far not a word about girls I have chatted with or dated. Keeping you curious, dear readers.

* stands for one night stand

** stands for friends with benefits