If you’re tired of Tinder hook-ups, a new American dating app that recently launched in Toronto may have what you’re looking for. Hinge, branded as a “classier” Tinder, will allow you to skip the awkward glimpses and instantly connect with campus hotties.
Instead of matching users by location, Hinge uses your Facebook profile information to create a list of about 20 possible dates—all found through friends of friends—whose background, interests and education align with yours. So if that campus hottie happens to be friends with a classmate you have on Facebook, you have a greater chance with them.
The creators of the app describe it as being a classier version of Tinder and more suitable to university students, as the majority of its U.S users have college education.
Third-year Ryerson University student Oana Blandea thinks by using education as a pruner in a large dating market, you’re more likely to find a compatible match at your school.
“I’m sure most of the people in your class are using it or something similar to it, too,” says Blandea. “It’s just the world we live in.”
Blandea says though educational criteria is important, people should remember it’s only an ice-breaker and values and beliefs are important, too.
“I think that Hinge can add to an initial conversation with someone, but I don’t think it’ll benefit a relationship in the long-run just because two people share similarities in education,” she says.
Toronto is the first Canadian city to launch the app, but it will be launching in other cities and university campuses soon.
According to market-research company IBIS World, the Canadian dating service industry’s revenue is about $153 million per year. In Ontario alone, about 62 per cent of people are single, and 60 per cent of those people are between 20 and 29 years old.
Ramona Pringle, assistant professor at Ryerson’s RTA school of media, says she’s noticed the campus trend of students having their “faces buried into their phones.”
“These devices also help people meet. Even on a campus, it can be hard to make new acquaintance,” says Pringle. “There’s definitely an appeal to having an app that can help make that first move.”
Kasia graduated from the Ryerson School of Journalism in 2015.