Knowing how to use Tinder can be considered essential in the love life arena, especially if you want to try online dating. Out of numerous free dating apps, Tinder is one of the most reliable and effective. Whether you’re looking for someone to stay the night or stay for life, Tinder is the app for you.
While this dating app can be easily accessed and downloaded, many still find it daunting to use. If you are one of those people, read on to know how you can use Tinder easily and effectively.
What is Tinder: The Evolution of a Dating App
As most people know, Tinder is a widely-used free dating app. The dating app’s users can set up their dating profiles and anonymously browse through those of others. It is used for various reasons. Some access the app simply to meet new people or make friends. Meanwhile, others intend to date seriously and commit. Whatever reason you may have, you can be sure that Tinder can help you network and socialize online.
Indeed, Tinder has evolved over the years to cater to their users’ needs more efficiently.
The Initial Tinder Model
The Tinder app was originally made for hookups and casual relationships. In its initial version, Tinder used an algorithm that evaluates and assigns people’s standing within the app. A user’s app score was based on the number of left and right swipes you receive. If you acquire more left swipes, your score will decrease. On the other hand, obtaining more right swipes will increase your score.
One’s Tinder score was not merely based on the number of left and right swipes, though. The ranking of people swiping on other users was also a factor that affected others’ scores. This means that a user with more right swipes will affect someone’s score more significantly than someone with fewer likes.
The Improved Tinder Version
Tinder eventually announced in 2019 that they were going to try a different algorithm. Instead of ranking, they opted for an algorithm that monitors a user’s likes. The new Tinder algorithm aims to find and suggest Tinder profiles that fit a user’s preferences best.
The improved version of Tinder also monitors the total amount of time you spend using the app. Additionally, it tracks how regularly you access or open the app in a day. All in all, Tinder was enhanced to observe all the data and activity users do on the app. Through this, they were able to provide a more efficient service for their customers.
Today, Tinder has successfully evolved to be America’s current leading dating app. As of 2019, the free dating app garnered over 7.86 million users in the United States alone. It continues to obtain more users and help people with their dating endeavors.
How Does Tinder Work?
If you are new to Tinder, you may find the online dating app to be quite intimidating. Although it might look complicated at first, this dating app is actually easy to use. To help you understand your way around the app, here is a comprehensive guide for beginners on how to use Tinder:
Download the Tinder App
Tinder is a free dating app that can be downloaded from online platforms such as the Google Play Store and the iOS Apple Store. The app can also be downloaded directly from the Tinder website.
Create an Account
After downloading the Tinder app, you can now proceed with creating your account. First, enter your current mobile number and verify it on the app. Next, enter your email address. You can then proceed with connecting your Facebook account to your Tinder profile. Doing so is a fast and efficient way to create your profile and verify that you are a real person. Additionally, Tinder can also track your geo-location and interests through Facebook. This can help you obtain better potential Tinder matches.
Enhance Your Tinder Profile
After you’ve successfully created your account, you can now start with modifying your profile. This may appear unnecessary and irrelevant at first. However, keep in mind that this is an essential step in learning how to use Tinder efficiently. Enhancing your profile will help you acquire a better chance of getting more likes and matches.
The first thing you want to do is to set great pictures on your profile. Choose images that you think will show your best attributes. If you have one, you may also connect your Tinder to your Instagram account. Through this, users can browse through your photos and get to know you better.
Lastly, you should also consider adding a bio on your Tinder profile. Some may deem this irrelevant, but utilizing this feature will greatly help in your online dating pursuit. By crafting a bio, you can highlight your personality, lifestyle, and interests. In turn, you will have a better chance of acquiring more compatible matches.
Modify Tinder Settings
Among the basics, the last and essential step on how to use Tinder is to modify your app settings. You can tweak various aspects according to your preference.
To do this, you have to set your gender and age first. Then, you can maximize the app’s features by utilizing the proximity feature. You have to make sure that you have enabled your device’s GPS or location setting to use this function.
Once you are done setting these up, you can proceed with tweaking other settings according to your preference. You may choose the gender of people you want to see on Tinder. Do note that you can enable both genders at the same time. You may also pick the age range of users that you want to appear on your feed. Lastly, you can edit the distance range or proximity of other users around you in your account.
Browse Through Tinder Profiles
Now that you have successfully set up your Tinder account, you can proceed with browsing through others’ Tinder profiles. As mentioned before, the profiles on your feed will appear according to the settings you’ve set and the preferences you’ve picked.
So, what will you see on your Tinder feed? The first things you will see in another user’s profile are their first name, age, photo, and physical distance from you. Aside from these, some users may also list their interests, job, or college.
Once you are done browsing through someone’s profile, you might notice three characters below their profile: a red x, a blue star, and a green heart. If a user made a good impression on you, you may click the green heart to ‘like’ their profile. However, you may also click the red x if you think they’re not a good match for you. If you find someone you absolutely like, you may click the blue star to ‘super like’ their account.
Alternatively, you can utilize the popular Tinder swipe methods. To do this, you may swipe left if you don’t like someone’s Tinder profile. On the other hand, you may swipe right if you do like someone on the app. To ‘super like’ a user’s account, all you have to do is swipe up.
After deciding between three options, you will see that the profile will slide off your device’s screen. If they already saw your profile and swiped right, a prompt saying “It’s a Match” will flash on your screen. This indicates that you and that user have liked each other’s profiles, thus meaning that you have matched.
Match and Message
After you matched with somebody on Tinder, the next step will depend on either one of you. You can wait for the person to message you or you can initiate a conversation right away.
So, how do you message someone on Tinder? This is as simple as using other messaging apps or platforms you may already have. Once you click on the chats feature in the app, you will see the names of every user you matched with. Simply click on one’s name and start messaging. If they were the first to chat, you will also see their messages here.
How to Use Tinder: Tips and Tricks
True enough, learning about the basics of how to use Tinder might be enough to land you a cute date or potential soulmate. However, do remember that there are lots of users on the app. If you want to be successful in online dating, you should make it a point to create a good impression and stand out. This way, you can avoid having no matches on Tinder and finding that special someone for you,
With these Tinder profile tips and tricks, you can achieve these and more.
Select a Good Lead Photo
Some believe that first impressions can be the last. So, you must be sure to display your best self on your Tinder profile if you want to increase your chances of acquiring matches. One way to do this is to select and use an excellent lead photo. Since this will be the first picture that other users will see, it will play an important role in your success in online dating.
To select a great lead photo, it’s best to choose your most flattering picture. Picking a clear image of yourself smiling and looking relaxed is one of the best ways to choose a lead photo.
Moreover, note that Tinder has a ‘smart photo’ tool. This enables the app to measure and determine which of your Tinder photos made other users like your account. As a result, the function will automatically preview your most successful photo as your leading pic. Tinder states that this increases the chances of getting a match by over 12 percent. So, keep in mind to enable and utilize this feature because it is efficient and free to use.
Utilize Your Photo Slots Well
Maximizing your photo slots on Tinder can be the key to getting a swipe right and having a successful online dating experience, too. You would want to ensure that you were able to use your limited photo slots on the free dating app. To do this, select your most flattering and clear pictures. Consider photos that you think will best showcase your interests, hobbies, and personality. You can also display some photos of you with friends to make an impression that you are trustworthy and fun to be with.
If you feel like you have a lot of great photos, you may also choose to connect your Instagram account to Tinder. This way, other users can browse through your Instagram pictures easily. This can increase your chances of being trusted right off the bat, as it proves you’re a real person and not a catfish.
Make the First Move
Another great way on how to use Tinder effectively is by making the first move. Initiating a conversation might be scary at first, especially with a stranger online. However, making the first move can make a lot of great impressions. By initiating, you can get to know someone else better. Additionally, you will have an increased chance of getting dates if you converse with other users.
Choose the Right Person
With lots of Tinder users to meet and choose from, determining the ideal person for you can be quite hard. However, there are ways to help you decide whether or not that person you met on Tinder is the one.
One way to do this is to know if they are using Tinder for sex, friendship, or a serious relationship. To determine one’s intention on the app, you may look at clues on their Tinder bio. Key phrases or intentional messages such as “looking for ONS” or “no hookups” can help you determine a user’s intentions on the app.
However, not all users will have their intentions displayed on their Tinder profile. So, you may opt for transparency upon conversing with them. There is nothing wrong with directly asking for someone’s intentions on the app. This way, you can both know what to expect. If you find that you do not have the same goal in mind, you can choose to be friends instead and move on.
There is no fool-proof way of choosing the right person for you, but these methods can help you boost your chances of doing so. In the end, you have to keep in mind that you still have to trust your instincts and follow your feelings when choosing someone you want to spend your life, or night, with.
The Bottomline
The Tinder dating app has shaped and influenced the online dating community in great ways. From its evolution to its instigation as the world’s leading dating app, Tinder truly made its mark in the minds and lives of people around the world.
Although online dating has had a great influence on our lives and relationships, remember that the identities we display or see online may not completely reflect who we really are. So, the next time you swipe left or right and acquire a Tinder match, keep in mind that these should not completely determine who you are. What matters most is that we keep our intentions good and respect other people and most importantly, ourselves.
