Numerous technology products developed over time have completely changed the way we view and do things. These include social media, electric cars, smartphones, and mobile money transfer services. The Tinder dating app makes the cut too.
Tinder is not the first dating platform but it is definitely the first of its kind. Before this app or service, the online dating process was tedious. One had to fill forms and provide details that would then be analyzed before a match can be found. The hustle for an online date did not end there, there would be an unending and overwhelming number of emails from the dating site asking you to upgrade to a premium plan so that you can access more benefits, and of course so that they can make a coin off you. Enter Tinder and the game changes; the process involves swiping left or right. Users can swipe right if they like the matches or left if they don’t. It is as simple as that.
The dating platform was first released into the market in 2012 and since then, the number of users continues to rise. By 2014, the company reported having registered about one billion swipes per day. From a distance, this seems casual and quite convenient considering where we have come from. All is not rosy though. Several date rape cases have been reported. Once again, the society has been notably silent about these sexual harassment cases.
Tinder cases signal dark side of online dating
Several rape cases among people who met on Tinder have been reported and some even convicted in a court of law. A majority of the victims are female. Most of the accused admitted that they met their date with certainty that the meeting would go beyond having drinks and talking. To others, the steamy conversations they had prior to the face-to-face meeting gave them the impression that their date would “give it up”.
Studies have revealed that online relationships can progress at a fast rate and this means that people may feel that they are at an advanced stage of a relationship with someone they have never met. By the time such people meet in real life, some may feel entitled to physical intimacy based on the nature of their online interactions.
Tinder and other dating services have been linked to numerous other crimes including murder and child abuse. The reported cases could just but a tip of the iceberg. There is a conspicuous pattern of horror cases linked to these dating services. The online dating sites are now a safe hideout for rapists and other criminals. While we cannot totally write-off these sites since some people have found love or a hookup, users need to be warned and encouraged to take precautionary measures before meeting someone online. Here are some safety tips:
Basic date safety tips:
- Meet someone during the day as opposed to meeting them at night,
- Alert a friend or relative of your whereabouts
- Try to find out more about your date before you agree to a meeting
- If possible avoid alcoholic drinks, if you have to, keep it to a minimum.
- Get to know someone but avoid over-familiarity. Also, keep the conversation light to ensure that you guard your privacy.
- Have your transport sorted in advance
- Trust your gut, if someone makes you feel uneasy, leave.
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and those trying to find love or a date should use online dating sites carefully. Millions of people are registered on these sites and while some are genuinely seeking love or a hookup, others have ulterior motives. Sex offenders and murderers are hiding in the name of love. In spite of the clear safety warnings that online dating services offer, many users of dating apps and services do not take them with the seriousness they deserve.
Tinder and other online dating services provide an easy and convenient platform for people to find love. These platforms can either lead to successful relationships/hookups or tragedies. Anyone can become a target; hence, necessary precaution needs to be taken before meeting anyone you have met online.
Do you have any experience with online dating? If yes, feel free to share with us in the comments section. If no, would you try them?
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