fourth year sydney kohne

Admit it: If you are single and haven’t downloaded a dating app in the past eight months with hopes of battling your pandemic-induced crippling loneliness, you’ve at least given it some consideration. Whether it be Tinder (An oldie but goodie), Bumble (Women messaging first? Not for me, thanks), Hinge (Where every man is competitive about everything), or any other app that suits your fancy, there is a whole wide world of romantic opportunity waiting for you within a few little swipes of your screen!

But let’s be realistic about how these things tend to go. Not everyone you match, meet, or message is the person for you! So just for fun, let’s explore some of the Do’s and Don'ts of dating apps to better prepare you for your post-Covid mingling.

Do: Be specific and open when expressing your interests. If you love 90’s hip-hop, French horror films, or are super enthusiastic about the rise of capitalism, make it known! Passion for one’s interests is *attractive*.

Don’t: Be that person that gatekeeps their favorite movie or thinks that being secretive about the fandom they obsess over is going to win points with matches. After all… you didn’t download the app to know less about people. And definitely don’t have a superiority complex about your interests. A prime example of what not to say goes something like this: “Oh, you’ve probably never heard of my favorite musician, they’re really niche, probably not your style.” Ouch.

Do: Use a variety of pictures that show off who you are! Personally, I feel 100x more compelled to swipe right on people that post photos featuring their families, workplace, or even embarrassing moments than those that post a bunch of selfies. Also, pictures of you and your pet are always a safe bet. No one will ever object to a cute animal.

Don’t: Only use group photos. Honestly, how do you expect anyone to know which one you are? This isn’t Russian Roulette. No one is going to try their chances that you happen to be the one in the pictures that actually caught their eye. Also, men, let’s ditch the pics of you holding up a fish for good.

Do: Treat everyone with basic human decency! This is an important one y’all, so take notes. Respect everything someone chooses to disclose to you, including their preferred pronouns, religious views, political opinions, and even their hot take on which Harry Potter movie is the best (Half-Blood Prince is the only correct answer, though). If something on their profile doesn’t float your boat, just swipe left! Really simple stuff here.

Don’t: This one’s for the dudes. Just don’t refer to other women as bitches or tell us your ex was “crazy.” That’s all.

In conclusion: Be open, respectful, and have fun in your dating app endeavors! Dating apps can be a wonderland of opportunity, but only if you make them so. Happy swiping!

how to be successful in your dating app endeavors