Since online dating first emerged more than 20 years ago, the ways in which people attempt to find a partner have evolved significantly. No longer do we have to rely on friends setting us up on dates with "this really nice guy they know from the office", or putting a lonely hearts advert in the back pages of a newspaper, or drunkenly eyeing up someone in a bar without knowing whether or not they'll agree to have a drink with you.
In fact, with apps such as Tinder, you don't need to risk any
embarrassment or awkward conversation at all. You just swipe right on the people you like - et voila - if they've swiped you too, you've got yourself a starting point. There's no obligation to meet with people you don't get along with, no rules saying you have to reply to that awkward chat up line, and no time wasted by going on "blind dates" with people who turn out not to be your type at all.
But now the infamous dating app has upped its game even further - and it might just help you find that special someone.
As most people know, Tinder's main rival is Bumble - the app which only permits women to start the conversation. This feature has worked really well for them, as guys don't feel the pressure of having to initiate a chat, and women don't have to put up with
pestering guys who won't leave them alone when they don't respond to the first "heyyyyyyyy :)".
So, in a stroke of genius (or plagiarism - you decide), Tinder has decided to adopt this same format for their own platform. However, they've set it as an option rather than a built-in feature.
This means that, if you're a woman on Tinder, you can basically choose to have your DMs open or closed.
"Often, women don’t really want the pressure of kicking off the conversation, but if they want it, that’s great," said Mandy Ginsberg, the CEO of the company that owns Tinder. "Giving people the choice versus telling people how to engage is the big difference."
This is a clear effort by Tinder to close the gap between the number of users their platform has, and the amount of people who are signed up to Bumble. At the moment, a lot of women have Tinder
and Bumble, so this option would essentially negate the need for someone to have more than one account.
Tinder also tried to buy Bumble recently, but their offer wasn't enough. Clearly, this is their way of getting their own back.
Then again, there's nothing stopping men and women from still using Bumble, so it all just seems to be down to personal preference.
So, if you're a man who isn't too confident with opening lines, or a woman who likes to have the first say in a conversation, keep an eye out for the new Tinder update. It's sure to be
a talking point with your new matches.
