Dating Apps For College Student Who Dont Want To Hook Up

 

By: Vida Hashemi-Nejad

Photos: Pixabay

Tinder is a free dating app with a lot of perks to offer young singles. Over 50% of Tinder members are between 18 and 25 years old. You can create a Tinder profile instantly by connecting to your social media accounts, and the app encourages members to stay active, send GIFs, and engage in multiple flirty conversations to up their odds of meeting the right person online. The fact that hook up culture divides the concepts: sex is one thing, and love is another one. Hook up sex usually does not imply any kind of relationship at all, including friendship, sympathy. Dating in Korea can be hard, especially as a foreigner. Whether you want to make new friends or venture into a romantic relationship, these dating apps in Korea might just help you along.

Social media apps like Instagram and Facebook have also been areas where people can meet and talk. A way that many people start conversations on these platforms is either through commenting on pictures or the most common option is referred to as “sliding in the dms.”

Online dating has become a popular activity that the majority of today’s younger generation has resorted to. The advancements and growth of technology have led to the increase in utilization of various social media platforms/ dating apps. As a result of this, many individuals have exchanged in person interactions with over the screen communication instead. This easy and quick means of finding a significant other has caught the attention of many busy college students all around the country. Some individuals have refrained from participating in this, but the reality is that this group is minute.

Matchmaking is a phenomenon that dates all the way back to 1685. During this time, citizens would place personalized ads or infographics in the local newspapers to provide interested readers information about eligible bachelors and bachelorettes. Centuries later, in 1969, the first matchmaking program utilizing a computer was introduced. With this, the creators would match potential couples based upon their likes and dislikes. Approaching the 2000’s, technology really started to flourish with the abundance and accessibility of various kinds of computers, tablets and most popularly the smartphone. But it wasn’t until 2007 when the first dating apps on the market were introduced. Today, there are over 49 million people actively engaged in a total of about 8,000 different dating apps.

With its tremendous success over the past decade, this market has expanded and broken off into various categories to better tend to consumer needs and wants. Apps such as Christian Mingle, are geared towards religious individuals who seek to find a partner who shares the same core beliefs. Bumble is another popular platform that is best known as the “feminist dating app.” The company uniquely separates themselves from their competition by allowing women to make the first move on whoever they take interest in. Lastly, there is Tinder which introduced the swiping game that gave the company massive amounts of success and liking. The app gives users the option to swipe right to like, swipe left to dislike, and super like to indicate extreme interest.

College students make up a big portion of the online dating market. The utilization of dating apps can be seen on various college campuses around the country. According to several statistical analyses, men make up a higher percentage of this market at 52.4% whereas women amount to a much lower 47.4%.

The question at hand is, “what possible implications can this pose on today’s youth”? When asked about this, a sophomore studying Fashion Merchandising at Marymount explained, “I think that online dating apps along with social media platforms have negatively impacted our society as a whole. So many people are just infatuated with what’s on their screen rather than what’s going on around them. This can ultimately result to the potential loss of getting to acquaint oneself with a great person who may be standing right next to you.” She then proceeded to explain that dating and social media apps are making society more focused on physicality rather than personality.

Several of the interviewees were asked if they were currently active on any dating apps. The most common response to this question was no. During the first few years of college, many individuals resort to finding potential relationships with the help of various apps. Another reason for why these apps are so well used is because people succumb to joining to fit in as it has become a social trend that everyone is following. The majority of the young population is engaged in a dating app or once was.

For some, their experiences have been fun and successful while for others it has been a pointless waste of time. When asked about her current online dating status, Briana Carter, a Sophomore studying at the United States Air Force Academy said, “I am currently not on any dating apps because nowadays these platforms are just simply for hookups. If I wanted a stable relationship, I would opt to meet the person organically.”

The internet has been a blessing in terms of allowing the quick access of information, furtherment in education, and a faster means of communication. Social media and dating apps fall under the communication category. People are given the opportunity to post and share information about themselves and their day to day lives for others to see. But what is considered to be too much to share? A Marymount design student answered this through her own personal experience by saying, “I was swiping through tinder when I approached a picture of a guy on top of a girl with his bio caption stating ‘looking for a wild girl to have some fun with tonight.’ This particular instance that I encountered has been one of many. It just comes down to the fact that people don’t care about what they put out there anymore.”

Many people associate a great deal of risk when it comes to taking part in online dating. One of the most common concerns pertains to intentions. A junior studying criminal justice at American University explained, “With being a part of dating sites comes a wide range of people, some who are mature and are genuinely looking for a relationship, while others are simply looking for a fun hookup. With that being said, some people like myself, utilize the apps as a means to meet new people and to form connections.”

Another cause for concern is talking to someone who isn’t who they claim to be. This is something that frequently happens on dating apps. Users can easily utilize misleading photos, pose as another individual, lie about their gender, age, and occupation in order to deceive others to obtain matches. When asked if any of this is a possibility, Stephanie Harangozo, a sophomore at Marymount said, “Oh definitely, you run the high risk of being catfished or you can simply meet an all-around dangerous person whether that be physically or emotionally.”

Dating apps for college students who don

Lastly, there is a higher likelihood of encountering weird and uncomfortable situations over dating apps or social media platforms rather than in person. When you match with someone on Tinder, you don’t know who that person is and it won’t be apparent by simply looking at their pictures. Therefore, you won’t know if they are creepy or not until you get the chance to talk to them. Erin Gray, a sophomore studying at the University of Mary Washington explained, “I have experienced several weird and creepy encountering’s with guys that I have matched with on dating apps. The weirdest by far was when I matched with a guy who had a severe foot fetish. He was so desperate for me to send him pictures of my feet that he even offered to send me money if I sent a few to him.”
Over a screen, people are more likely to say things that they would likely not say to that individual during a face to face interaction. It is easy to say anything behind a screen and because of that, people have become less careful with their choice of words. This in turn, has led to extreme cases of bullying and sexual harassment.

So, this leads to the question of whether people are more sexually vulgar on dating apps rather than in person. Elle Park, a sophomore studying Media Design and Communications at Marymount, explained, “Yes, I believe people are more sexually disrespectful on dating apps because they don’t actually know who they’re talking to. There’s a stigma about dating apps that cater towards fun hookups where guys are willing to say anything out of desperation just to get laid. With that being mentioned, I believe that it is the same way with girls as well.” Also in regards to this question, a sophomore studying Criminology at Marymount said, “I believe that people are more sexually blunt over dating apps because even though it is a profile with your pictures and name plastered everywhere, there still remains a sense of anonymity as you are likely to never see that person in real life.”

Social media apps like Instagram and Facebook have also been areas where people can meet and talk. A way that many people start conversations on these platforms is either through commenting on pictures or the most common option is referred to as “sliding in the dms.” This is when an individual takes the opportunity to boldly dm someone that he or she is unfamiliar with. “This has happened to me on multiple accounts where guys I don’t know have sent me a sexually flirty dm. As a girl, I find this to be completely repulsive and disrespectful. It is in no way shape or form attractive. I find it more attractive when a boy sends a sweet message that shows me that they have the intentions of actually getting to know me instead of getting into my pants,” explained a freshman studying at George Mason University.

Many people believe that dating apps have a lot of downfalls, but even with that said people tend to take the risk and join anyways because it’s easy. A user can sit in the comfort of their home in their pajamas and send a message without the individual on the receiving end seeing. Although the majority of the younger generation takes part on these apps, most of them still prefer finding their potential partner in person. “Finding someone in person would be the ideal option because that way, it is much more personal and builds up trust as opposed to just swiping on somebody that you find attractive on a dating app,” said a student studying Criminology at Marymount.

Couples that do have luck and find someone through a dating app commonly refrain from telling their friends and family about where they met that individual. Elle Park explained her reasoning for why she prefers to keep this private, “I do not want them to know because I feel like they would look down on me. Resorting to a dating app to find someone rather than meeting them in person doesn’t sound good to most parents primarily because of the negative stigma associated with them.”

The job of dating apps is to offer users possible options for starting a potential relationship. Over the past several years, apps like Tinder have cracked down on safety precautions and are attempting to have users that are truly serious about finding love on their app. “In my opinion I see nothing wrong with dating apps. It is the job of the user to make smart decisions when it comes to swiping or interacting with someone through the app. Yes, this is an easier option but with it being so easy comes a need to be more cautious about what you post or do. Individuals shouldn’t limit themselves to online outlets because you never know who you can meet tomorrow,” a junior studying Political Science at Marymount said.

If you are a college student or someone who is attending college soon, then you most certainly need to know the top five dating apps to check out. Online dating has skyrocketed in popularity in the last decade. College students almost always tend to favor the online dating scene, versus meeting someone offline.

With as many online dating apps that are available for use, it can be confusing at times in regards to which will land you the best results. Some apps are better suited for long-lasting relationships, while others are better suited for those looking for shorter term relationships.

Today we will cover the top five apps that we know will help land you your top choice, specifically apps popular among the college community. Whether you’re looking for short-term or long-term, let’s dive straight into the top five online dating apps.

Best Dating Apps for College Students: Our Top Picks

Tinder

Tinder is, without a doubt, the most popular option for those in college looking for their next love. Tinder has millions of daily users, making it one of the most popular dating apps in the world. Sign up is an easy process, only requiring a phone number, password and email; keeping this process quick and easy.

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Tinder, the Godfather of online dating apps, is extremely feature-rich. These include super likes, messaging options, and a plethora of other features available for your pleasure. Tinder also has a modern interface, and is quite simple to use, making it a breeze to find your next lover.

Pros:

  • The Free Feature Ie Good
  • Plenty Of Users
  • Nice Interface

Cons:

  • High Competition
  • Limited Swipes Without Premium
  • Sometimes It’s A Rating App

Match.com

Match.com is another extremely popular online dating app — and with reason. This app is regularly used by college students. The Match app has tens of millions of users online in any given single month, with plenty of useful features. They even have a wink feature, which could be used as something of an ice breaker!

We looked at the feedback of Match.com users, and most of them stated that they loved the seriousness of the users, and that most are looking for something long term. A con to some; but definitely a pro among most. You will also appreciate their great anti spam feature, a system that helps protect you from spam profile.

Pros:

  • Great interface
  • Lots of Users
  • Great Anti Spam Feature
Best dating apps college

Cons:

  • Customer Service Average At Best
  • Pricey Premium
  • Could Include More Free Features
College

Zoosk

Widely used by those attending college and pulling in well over 30 million users, Zoosk is definitely an app to be considered. Zoosk uses a smart system designed to learn the user, instead of requiring a quiz upfront. This helps Zoosk learn who you want to date by watching who you like, message — and by observing other user actions.

Zoosk has a lot of cool features too, such as the messaging and location. Don’t forget the ability to only see those of a certain age or sexuality either, and we can’t help but to praise their easy to use system and modern user interface. According to most users, the app delivers satisfying ending results. We highly recommend this app!

Pros:

  • Popular Among College Students
  • Great Premium Price
  • Updated Frequently

Cons:

  • Not Updated Regularly
  • Basic Plan Isn’t Great
  • 25% of Users under 25

OkCupid

OkCupid is a proven app released to the public over a decade ago. Because of this, they have had time to refine their app multiple times. Sign up is a super easy process here; and profile creation is both fun and exciting. When you are setting up your profile, you will be prompted to fill out a brief questionnaire, which will help match you with others who have similar interests.

According to the feedback we have seen, most users loved this feature and admitted that it works better than most other apps. College students love OkCupid, probably because of the insane customization or modern style; regardless, it’s definitely an app that we proudly recommend to try.

Pros:

  • Proven Match Success
  • Millions of Users
  • Modern UI

Cons:

  • Lacks Great Spam Filters
  • Phone Number Needed
  • Questionnaire Needed

CoffeeMeetsBagel

CoffeeMeetsBagel once appeared on the popular TV show Shark Tank, quickly growing into a multi-million dollar company. They offer many features and aim to help those seeking love; long-term relationships that last. They attempt to do this by slowing down the ability to browse, by only allowing a limited amount of swipes.

No worries, though. After you sign up for their service, CoffeeMeetsBagel will then know your taste and match you with those more likely to match with you. If you’re looking for something long-term with a happy end, then CoffeeMeetsBagel is definitely worth a shot. We bet you won’t be disappointed with the results!

Pros:

  • Very Customizable
  • Great Match System
  • Loved By College Students

Cons:

  • Pricey Premium
  • Spam Profile Occasionally (Rare)
  • Set-up Process takes Longer

Things To Consider

Wear Protection

Dating is inevitable in college, which means you’ll likely have more than a few nights in bed with a lover. If you plan on sleeping around and having a bit of fun on the weekends to cool off from exams, make sure that you wear protection. Not only does this help prevent the possibility of catching diseases, this also helps prevent the potential unexpected pregnancy.

Dress Nice

College is a place to learn and make friends in the process, and when you find yourself going on a date, make sure that you dress for the occasion. College students are used to being around those who are dressed nice, especially out in public. So when you go out on that next date, make sure you are dressed well and smell nice.

Be Confident

This can be a touchy subject, especially if you have social anxiety. We don’t mean that you have to walk into the date location acting like a version of The Rock or Cat Woman, more just that you should be confident in yourself and your own abilities. Projecting that you lack confidence could cause further dates with the person to be at stake. No worries, however; after you both speak for a bit, then you’ll likely loosen up and become more open.

Consider Purchasing Premium

Online dating apps often have a premium option available for purchase, allowing you to use a plethora of different cool and useful features. This could be anything from an unlimited messaging option, video chats, or even unlimited likes. Purchasing premium is definitely not required, but if you are serious, this is probably a good option to consider.

Don’t Say “I” Too Often

Oftentimes, those going on a date may not know what to talk about, so they simply began mentioning what they do, such as hobbies or accomplishments. This is not necessarily a bad thing in itself — just make sure that you ask about them too. You don’t want to sound like you are completely self-absorbed, but this is easily fixed by asking them about themselves instead.

Dating Apps For College Students Who Don't Want To Hook Up To Computer

Remember These Things

Make A Stand Out Profile

Most users on online dating apps make an extremely simple profile that lacks character. First, make sure that you have a clear photo of yourself, and if it’s a group photo, ensure the person checking you out will know who is who. Next, make sure you fill in your bio with a few hobbies and goals; an individual may see something you both have in common and feel inclined to contact you!

Never Send Money

On almost every occasion, scammers will may ask you for money. This will likely start small, and usually happens within the first few weeks, although it can happen after months have passed. If you are asked to send money for any reason, this should immediately raise a red flag. Never send money to anyone online, especially those who you have never met in real life. This could lead to very negative consequences.

Keep Personal Information Private

Dating Apps For College Students Who Don't Want To Hook Up To The Internet

Online dating scammers may not ask for money, but instead ask for personal information. They will usually create a fake scenario for why they need such information. You should never give anyone online, particularly within a dating app, because this could lead to many legal issues, such as bankruptcy, identify theft and beyond. Stay cautious!

Pay Attention To Keywords

Oftentimes, online dating scammers use certain keywords that help them reel in and groom a victim, so it is crucial to be aware of these. These keywords typically consist of words such as “Destiny” or “Fate” and when encountered, you should stay vigilant.

Analyze Their Profile

Users on online dating apps can at times, receive an excessive amount of messages and likes, especially those who identify as female. When you are ready to let someone know you’re interested, make sure that you analyze their profile first. For example, if they like visiting historical locations, mention that you think it’d be fun to go along on a trip to a local site nearby. This makes you seem much more interested than most other people, who likely send an ice breaker message similar to “Hi!”. Lame!

Verdict

College is a place to learn and further your education, but at times when it gets a little boring and repetitive, it can be nice to break away and search for a companion to love and gossip with. That is why we have created a top five list with the most popular online dating apps used by those attending college while keeping user feedback and demographics in mind. Whether you are looking for something short-term or long-term, or even a potential hook-up, these give apps should give you a great head start. Make sure that you implement our proven advice too.

You definitely don’t want an unexpected pregnancy which would not only obviously change your entire life, but change the way you attend school and take time away from class as well. Make sure you dress nice and throw on some nice smelling scents before you meet up with a date. The last thing you want is denial because you’re poorly dressed, while also smelling like you’ve just finished football practice.

Dating Apps For College Student Who Dont Want To Hook Up To My

While taking advantage of the apps we have mentioned, make sure that you are aware of different online dating scams as well. To keep yourself safe, never provide any personal information or do anything online that you may regret in the future. We hope you have learned a lot from our guide and we hope you do the best with finding the perfect match to enjoy the golden years of college. Best of luck!