Senior computer engineering major

A couple of weeks ago, one of my friends introduced me to Tinder, a dating and hookup app that’s apparently all the rage right now. Here’s the premise: You first make an account synced with your Facebook and choose five of your best pics to show off to the Tinder world. Then you specify which gender you are interested in and decide on a mile radius to restrict your search for a match. Your smartphone is instantly flooded with pictures of fellow Tinder-ers in your area, and you engage in fast-paced touch-screen swiping to separate the cream from the rest of the crop. If two users happen to find each other interesting, they can start chatting and see what happens.

Whoever developed Tinder is an absolute genius for coming up with a social media platform 20-somethings could only have dreamed of. The software provides users with a shield of anonymity so they can put themselves out there without the threat of personal rejection. Also, the tempo of the mechanism disguises that it is a form of online dating, which would be a major turnoff for users who would never do that sort of thing. Not to mention it was addictive enough to hold my attention for about an hour and a half as I watched over my friend’s shoulder.

Despite its novelty, the idea of “Tindering” leaves me with a bad taste in my mouth. Tinder’s not-so-distant cousins, eHarmony and Match.com, induce a similar discomfort. I’m bothered that these tools have turned the search for romance — or even just a fun night — into something calculated and utilitarian. Online interactions distort the emotions surrounding this search and remove the excitement of uncertainty. And say what you will about love at first sight, but I guarantee you won’t find it on the screen of your tablet.

I can certainly understand, though, why online dating has become an attractive alternative to the traditional approach to relationships. Finding a soul mate is easy when you live in a small town that is essentially isolated from the rest of the world. This process becomes much more difficult when technology connects you to hundreds of millions of candidates. With dating tools, users can efficiently filter through tons of options, which helps alleviate the nagging feeling that they haven’t looked hard enough for Mr. or Mrs. Right.

If I find myself single in my late 20s with no prospect of a serious relationship, it might be time to swallow my pride and hop on the bandwagon. But for now, I’d rather cling to my belief that the search for love is most fulfilling when conducted outside of the digital domain that so often consumes us. I’d rather play the game in a manner that is whimsical and passionate than one that is algorithmic and cold. And I’d rather leave myself vulnerable and embarrassed than seek protection behind a screen.

Of course, my conclusions are tainted by my exposure to movies that romanticize and dramatize love. But movies are awesome, and I’m still young enough to be naive.

Kevin Hogan is a senior computer engineering major. He can be reached at khogandbk@gmail.com.