For Valentine’s Day, students both single and taken at the University of Minnesota shared their reasons for using dating apps.
In response to an anonymous 40-person survey conducted by the Minnesota Daily, many students had a variety of reasons for using dating apps. Some wanted to find a long-term partner, some wanted to explore their options and some just wanted to swipe.
Anthropology professor David Lipset, who has a focus in romance, social media and personhood, said the motivation to use dating apps is standard: to meet other single people who come from similar backgrounds and have similar hobbies.
“I don’t think that varies from age group to age group, or from part of the country to part of the country,” Lipset said. “Why else would people use a dating app? To look for a new car?”
According to an unscientific survey conducted by the Daily, 36 student respondents said they used Tinder, 27 used Hinge and 22 used Bumble either actively or recently.
Matthew Zeichert, a third-year student, said he only uses Hinge because it feels more tailored toward people who are looking for long-term relationships.
“I never focused on finding a relationship in my freshman or sophomore year,” Zeichert said. “[This is] my first year wading through the waters of online dating.”
Zeichert said so far he has not had a negative interaction on Hinge, but he is not surprised when a conversation with a match of his reaches a stalemate.
Lipset said the cultural meaning of Valentine’s Day can vary from country to country. In Japan, Lipset said it is celebrated by women giving their romantic partners chocolate, and men return the favor on “White Day,” which falls on March 14.
In a country like the U.S., Valentine’s Day has a bigger focus on affection between the couple, Lipset said. Gifts are given on the same day rather than separate days.
Kinsey Anderson, a fourth-year student who found their current romantic partner on Bumble, said they came onto the app with the intention of looking for love.
“Lots of ghosts, cricket chirps, and then I found my Princess Charming,” Anderson said.
Results of the anonymous survey can be found here. Certain cells have been edited for content and to protect personal information.
