SOL: Stanzas of Life

The season of sunshine, swimming, and rekindled friendships has finally arrived, Summer. With these characteristics, three months of high expectations seems unachievable. Summer adventures, road trips, and death-defying experiences compose the definition of this season. Further, Summer may be about relationships as well, possibly a new significant other. Finding “the one” can be time-consuming and often challenging.

Strong relationships are natural, not perfect, yet surrounded with love.

While dating apps are abundant, trendy, and appealing to Millennials, there is a common core in their “algorithms” of love. Several articles have surfaced in recent years about how these dating apps operate, so I’m not trying to crack any of the “codes.” Tinder, Bumble, PlentyOfFish, Match, Clover, and Hinge seem to still be gaining popularity. So, how do they create a compatible match?

The answer lies within two major factors that users control: Distance and Age.

All of the previously mentioned applications require new users to share their birthday and verify that they are above 18 years of age. While it is often seen that people lie about their actual age, the applications prevent users from claiming they are under 18 in their profiles.

After a duration of swiping, most of the dating apps incorporate an algorithm that will start to recycle people you did not like the first time. This circulating conveyor of potential dates, thereby, allows more possible matches to occur. By recycling possible matches, it makes the person appear as a better option, increasing the chances of a user swiping right.

These matching guidelines and algorithms seem to question the core value of love and fundamental strength of modern relationships. Here are a few inquiries:

Is there a proper algorithm of love? Hopefully, no.

What makes people find each other appealing?

Are dating apps cultivating a society in which personal, physical features determine the compatibility of two individuals to form a meaningful relationship?

Physical attraction is an element of all relationships, yet I worry that our society is becoming infatuated and solely focused on appearance. The chances of people taking the time to read one’s “bio” and scroll through their profile on a dating app is marginal. Clearly, you swipe “right” based on attraction towards the other’s appearance.

Current trends may suggest that the general direction of our societal value on relationships and love is different than past generations. While technology provides greater accessibility to meet new people and potential dates, I worry that Millennials will find/fall-in love with the wrong core values and lack in developing meaning relationships with others.