It’s fall, and that means that cuffing season has officially begun! If you’re looking to settle down with a new boo to keep you warm this season, why not do that straight from your couch with the classic dating app?
It’s been 10 years since Tinder first launched (does that make you feel old, too?) and totally changed the dating game. With tons of other dating apps out there now in 2022, Tinder is a bit of an oldie, but a goodie. So if you want to up your game and find some love (*cough* or just sex *cough*), here’s a guide to how to use the dating app Tinder to your advantage.
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What is Tinder and what is it used for in 2022?
According to Tinder, the app is the “world’s most popular app for meeting new people.” Interpret that as you will, but most people are using Tinder to meet people for love, whether that be short-term or long-term. From Tinder weddings (all of which seemed to happen this summer!) to the term “ghosting” to The Tinder Swindler, the dating app has become a staple in our love lives.
Since the launch of Tinder, we have seen a spawn of other dating apps such as Bumble, Hinge and more (including a variety of LGBTQ2S+-friendly dating apps).
With so many dating app options now available, how do most people tend to use Tinder in 2022? Tinder is now frequently used for meet ups and hookups. If you’re looking for a serious relationship, Tinder may not be the best app for you (though it can still happen!).
Related: Single in a seemingly endless pandemic? Try these tips.
Tips to make the most of your Tinder profile
Whether you’re down to hook up or just looking for casual flings, you need get your Tinder bio ready.
Pictures are the first step to a successful profile on any dating app. On Tinder, they’re the main thing that potential matches see when they first view your profile. You can post up to nine photos, but based on my own very “scientific” swiping, most people post between five and six. You must post two for Tinder to put your profile up.
Photos that tend to get the most positive reactions are photos with your mom (not your fish!), your dog and your travels. Strangely, for a hookup app, sexy photos won’t help you much. According to a study, you come off as “incompetent and unlikeable” with those NSFW photos, so save the boudoir shots for later on in your relationship.
Another tip? Make sure to post photos with your friends. Not every photo, but a photo or two with friends gives you a 74 per cent better chance of people swiping right.
Related: 10 ineffective dating app profile tropes to avoid in 2022.
Try these Tinder bio ideas
Once a potential match sees your cute photos, they’re going to want to learn a bit more about you. Though many people forgo writing a bio on Tinder nowadays, a good Tinder bio makes for a better opener for a conversation — AKA it makes it more likely that you’ll actually meet this person.
But how do you write an appealing Tinder bio? Make sure your bio says something that somebody can easily open a conversation with. Cultural references, nostalgia and food-related content all seem to perform well on the app.
If you can’t quite think of any bio lines, here are some ideas to get you started:
- Yes, you can hang out with me to get my dog (note: maybe have a photo of your dog if you’re using this one!).
- Do you ever feel like a plastic bag floating in the wind?
- I once ate a bag of opened Fuzzy Peaches I found in the library, and haven’t died yet.
Related: 10 dating terms we keep hearing and what they mean.
When to swipe right
Now that the hardest part of Tinder is over – creating your bio – you can start swiping! While this can be exciting and fun, it can be overwhelming because Tinder presents you with so many people.
With that in mind, it’s a good idea to set some parameters to narrow your search a bit. First things first, go to your app settings and adjust your age and distance preferences so that you aren’t matching with 18-year-olds in Florida.
Then, when you’re actually swiping, think about your goals: are you using Tinder just to hook up? If so, then go ahead and swipe on people you find sexy!
But if you’re using Tinder to find real love or a relationship, ask yourself: what are you looking for? Do you only want to date people with certain jobs or who have certain political beliefs or even certain astrological signs (which is available on some people’s bios)?
Figuring out what you want is integral not to get overwhelmed by the sheer amount of people on this app. If you want to use Tinder to its full potential for you, don’t neglect taking the time to figure out what you actually want first.
See also: Women on dating apps are looking for feminists: study.
What are good openers on Tinder?
Congrats, you got a match! Now comes to the hard part: what do you say to this person?
The best way to engage with someone is to open with something related to their profile. Do they have a cute dog? A reference to a movie you love in their bio? A mouthwatering pizza? Start with that! It shows you’re paying attention and will allow you to get to know that person better.
See also: Must love dogs? How to date someone who isn’t a ‘pet person.’
A key to Tinder success is having fun with it. Be your full, weird self and start with questions people want to answer! Nobody wants to have a “hey how are you?” conversation over an app. And don’t be overly sexual, unless the person’s profile explicitly specifies they’re interested in that kind of conversation.
If you really can’t think of a good opener, Tinder can help. It has a feature that generates openers for you right in the chat part of the app. So you really have no excuse not to message your new matches.
Some fun and unique opening lines you can use on dating apps like Tinder include:
- Going to Loblaws. Want anything?
- Have you watched Ted Lasso yet? I’m obsessed and need somebody to talk about it with! (Note: this is also a good way to schedule a Netflix-and-chill date.)
- What song did you last listen to on Spotify? Honest answers only!
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How to go from texting to dating
If you’re keeping up a good text rapport with someone on Tinder, you’re going to want to meet them! But how do you take it from text to date?
The best way to do this is to be direct: “Hey, I’d love to meet you in person. Are you up for coffee on Monday after work?”
Feel free to add in personalized details, maybe suggesting a fun activity you two have discussed.
It’s best to meet in public the first time for safety reasons. A lot of Tinder meet-ups may be for hookup purposes, so if you’re going to someone’s house, tell a friend and keep your Find My location on in case something goes bad.
Related: How to calm first-date nerves — tips from a dating expert.
What to do if you get ghosted
Sometimes you’re having a great text conversation one minute, and then you… never hear from this person again! Getting ghosted is the worst, but sadly is rife on Tinder.
If you get ghosted, know that it’s not your fault. The person may be busy, may have met someone or may just be a jerk. It can feel really awful, especially if you’ve had a good conversation.
The good thing about Tinder is there are so many people on it, you can easily move on to the next match and forget about your ghoster.
You may also like: Popular pickup lines that would not fly in 2022.
Put simply? The best way to use Tinder right now is to know what you’re looking for, have fun and stay safe. Enjoy swiping!
