The simple swipe left or right on a person’s picture may seem like a game to most. However this has become more of a lifestyle for some teenagers. Tinder and Hot or Not have become more than just a mere social network.

These apps are dominating the dating world for both adults and teenagers. Tinder was introduced to the app store in 2012 and since then, an estimated 100 million people use the app, according to the App Store. This means that about 100 million adults and teenagers around the world have swiped left or right on another person.

“The notion of swiping left or right on both men and women only objectifies them,” Thalia Ruiz, Div. 673, said. “Based on your picture, people can decide if they like you or not. Most people only use it to hook up.”

Ruiz believes that Tinder is not a reliable source for a sustainable relationship.

“This is the real world and most of the time, things don’t work out like that.”

While some may use apps like Tinder or Hot or Not to meet up with other teenagers, others see these apps as a mere game.

“All my friends who are on it, they’re using it for fun. If any one of my friends wanted someone to date, they’d much rather find that someone in person,” Leonardo Rivera, Div 669, said.  

Victor Arizmendi, Div 652, used Tinder on occasion.

“I got bored and I just decided to make an account. I thought it would be fun to meet people over break, but I see [Tinder] as more of a game.”  

Adem Cosevic, Div. 655, also only uses Tinder as a pastime.

“I don’t rely on it to discover my future wife or anything like that. It’s definitely more for fun.”

As a safety measure, Arizmendi has guidelines when using Tinder.

“Do not give any personal information out because you don’t know who you’re actually talking to,” Arizmendi said. “And if you guys are going to hang out, then never go to each other’s houses because that’s really dangerous. Go somewhere public where you know you are going to be safe.”

Ruiz also has precautions when she opens Tinder on her phone.

“If the conversation gets weird or I feel uncomfortable, I automatically stop speaking to them,” she said. “I do not put any of my other social media on there.”

Using cheesy pickup lines, such as “If you were a vegetable, you’d be a cute-cumber” is one of Rivera’s guidelines when using Tinder.

“As an actual rule, I think you should always begin with a pickup line — that’s just a given.”

Technology has played a role in almost all relationships for this generation, and Tinder has made communication with potential partners a lot easier.

“I feel like some people think it’s easier to date. They are only on there for one thing, and that is to talk to new people,” Arizmendi said. “Tinder has made people think they didn’t need to work so hard for a relationship since it’s online and you don’t need to put forth so much effort.”

Ruiz believes that Tinder should not be the definition of what dating is for teenagers.

“We as a generation already have a twisted sense of what dating should and shouldn’t be,” she said. “We are not getting to know each other anymore or stripping away everything else and getting to really know a person.”

Contrary to Ruiz, Rivera believes that Tinder, along with other social media outlets, does not have any effect on this generation’s dating habits.

“Every generation has always had its ‘Oh you’re staring at your newspaper all day — go talk to people.’ Now it’s ‘You’re staring at your phone all day — go talk to people,’” Rivera said. “Every generation has that thing, and for us it’s going on our phones and social media.”