Swiping Right: What's Changed For Us Since Tinder Came Into Our Lives?

Here's a reality for Tinder users everywhere, we've become accustomed to our modern space age dating habits, meeting people online is no longer an eye brow raising ordeal. In fact, its less likely to have an organic romance these days, no 'It' couple have met in a random coffee shop. But is this good? Is this a positive opportunity to broadcast those cute selfies you took and get some admiration for it? Actually that's quite a good point... But back to the rationale, is this Tinder yoke helping or hindering romance?

First the pros; Tinder is like a test drive before a date, you get to make funny little innuendos and openly laugh at your own hilarity without feeling judged, you can ask crucial questions to determine whether or not your match is a sociopath/stage 5 clinger/crime lord, you can check if you actually have anything in common with this person and just generally suss them out. All from the comfort of your own home, while wearing your Winnie The Pooh pyjamas. Sounds quite dreamy doesn't it... To activate love life simply swipe right.

However, there are some sinister cons to be considered folks... Firstly, as with all social media please do remind yourself of the 'smoke and mirrors' technique, I'm talking filters here people. There is a filters on Tinder ethical debate to be had some day, today is not this day, tomorrow doesn't look good either.

Next on the cons list, creeps/clingers/predators/accidental rights, Tinder presents in quantity not quality, therefore while innocently looking for love you may encounter any of the above categories. It's important to look for warning signs, a creep will always ask something overly personal, usually location themed so they can stage an 'accidental' meeting, do not fall into this trap. Creeps may also be potential serial killers(another, rather large con). Clingers, ahhh the clingers, instant message after matching, quick replies, lots of compliments, lots of smoochie faced emojis... Abort mission. Predators, while I do almost admire the confidence it takes to be a predator I also resent it, do not message someone an erotic fantasy without at least saying hello first. Manners, please. Then the most cringe inducing category of all, the accidental rights. You're standing at Stephens Green and see your friend walking towards you, you start to wave (you're personable like that), but then the person in front of them waves at you, and for a second you're like hey, then you realise you don't know them and they don't know you but your hand is still waving... It happens. Anyways, that awkward social interaction is also newly available to download, via Tinder. If a leftie who slipped through the net messages you, do the kind thing, ignore them, do not keep waving to spare their feelings. Now is not the time to assert your inner good samaritan.

I realise my cons list is slightly longer than the pros... Luckily though, decision making and basic arithmetic are not my strong points, so let's call it even. We can conclude that Tinder, like an old school friend, has begun to distance itself from our everyday lives. Not because it's dying, again I do apologise for the amateur dramatics. Tinder didn't die but our ability to swipe began to dwindle. Tinder dates are main stream now, no longer an unheard of phenomenon. Our thumbs are tired and its time to regroup and get ready for the next big romantic thing (I hear its cupcakes and will be accepting these in the name of research).

Did Tinder help the love lives of Irish singletons? Random one nighters aside, probably not... Did Tinder boost everyones self esteem and provide a forum for racy selfies? Yes, yes it did. And really that's the best gift any app can give us.

Diminishing but not yet dead, Tinder, we salute you.