Privacy of Tinder

With gay dating applications, it has been profoundly easier to meet other gay people. The current app that many people—both straight and gay—are raving about is Tinder.
Just 15 months after launching, it has made 500 million matches altogether, 4.5 million matches per day, and 400 million profile ratings per day.
But what makes Tinder so much better than other gay dating apps, like Jack’d, Grindr, and the heaven-sent Craigslist Personals?
The app imports your Facebook information, gathering basic information, common interests, and mutual friends, making match-making for potential candidates so much easier.
With the swipe of a finger, you can rate them as hot—or not— and if he likes your profile too, a match is made and the two of you can begin chatting, and your anonymity is secured.
Let me tell you a little about myself: I am male, gay, but in the closet, and I am not part of the gay scene (social groups and events where the LGBT community gathers, such as gay clubs and bars).
Of course, what I say will not encompass the whole gay community—it is simply from my experience.
Being a person who is in-the-closet is tough. I always tell myself that I should not feel the need to tell others about my sexuality. Being gay should not affect any true friendships or relationships. Yet at the same time, I feel that being gay is an intrinsic part of me that people should get to know and understand.
However, this fear of not being accepted by friends and family, being brushed off, being asked why I am gay, and whether or not I can change is something that most, if not all, gay people stress about.
The problem with being in the closet is that it makes it extremely difficult for a gay person to meet other gay people. Accompanied by the fact that not all gay people are in the gay scene and act or sound like the stereotypical gay person, it slowly begins to look like a search for a lost puppy. If it were not for these apps, the search could be long and futile.
While Tinder has certainly made the search easier, of course there are improvements that need to be made. Right now, you can ask to see male or female singles, but the app is a bit glitchy, and when you’re a male looking for males, sometimes, women will still pop up.
Also, if you’re interested in meeting a trans person who has transitioned from female to male, there is no way to specify this preference. But Tinder CEO Sean Rad has already acknowledged these flaws and says he aims to fix them.
So, for other people out there like me, do not be shy or scared to use dating apps. At first, your dignity and ego may be slightly bruised—I too thought that I would never in my life use dating apps.
But these apps truly have helped me make new friendships and relationships, and for those of you still in the closet, they are the best way to maintain your privacy.
Anonymous
Contributor