The Evil Economics of Tinder
Tinder, a popular dating app, became successful by attracting young adults and using a "swipe" feature that makes dating feel like a game, similar to slot machines. This design keeps users engaged by making them anticipate a reward (a match). The app is owned by Match Group, which also owns many other dating sites. Tinder uses a hidden ranking system to decide who sees your profile, and it encourages users to pay for features like unlimited swipes, boosts, and "Super Likes" to get more visibility. Men, especially older or less desirable ones, often pay more because they receive fewer matches. The app's pricing strategy and features are designed to make money from users' desire to find a match, often by making them feel they need to spend money to succeed.
Key Vocabulary
Something that is crooked is not straight or is bent. In a figurative sense, it can also describe something that is dishonest or unfair, like a game or system that is rigged.
Examples:
- The old fence posts were crooked, leaning at odd angles after years of neglect.
- The detective suspected the business deal was crooked, as several financial records seemed to be missing.
- It felt like a crooked path, constantly curving and never going in a straight line.
To maximize means to make something as great as possible in amount, size, or importance. It involves taking full advantage of all available opportunities or resources.
Examples:
- The company is focused on maximizing profits by streamlining its production process.
- She was dedicated to maximizing her study time before the difficult exam.
- The architect designed the building to maximize natural light and save energy.
Examples:
- The sudden disappearance of the ancient artifact remained inexplicable to historians.
- He felt an inexplicable urge to travel to a country he had never considered visiting before.
- Despite extensive research, the cause of the strange lights in the sky was inexplicable.
Cliches are phrases or opinions that are overused and betray a lack of original thought. They are often predictable and have lost their original impact due to repetition.
Examples:
- The movie was full of romantic cliches, making it feel predictable and unoriginal.
- His speech was filled with business cliches like 'think outside the box' and 'synergy'.
- She tried to avoid using cliches in her writing, aiming for fresh and unique expressions.
Shoddy refers to something poorly made or done. It implies a lack of care, skill, or quality in its construction or execution.
Examples:
- The shoddy workmanship of the furniture meant it fell apart after only a few months.
- He received a shoddy repair job on his car, and the problem reappeared almost immediately.
- The shoddy presentation reflected a lack of effort and preparation from the team.
To swipe means to move a hand or an object, especially a card or a finger, across a surface with a quick, sweeping motion. In the context of dating apps, it specifically refers to moving a profile picture left or right to indicate disinterest or interest.
Examples:
- She had to swipe her key card to gain access to the secure area.
- He watched the cat swipe at the dangling toy with its paw.
- After a quick glance, he decided to swipe left on the profile.
Swiping is the act of moving a hand or an object, especially a card or a finger, across a surface with a quick, sweeping motion. In the context of dating apps, it specifically refers to the ongoing action of moving profile pictures left or right to indicate disinterest or interest.
Examples:
- The user was accustomed to swiping through hundreds of profiles every day.
- She spent hours swiping through photos on her phone, looking for the perfect shot.
- The new payment system requires swiping your credit card instead of inserting it.
Raster refers to a system for encoding information, especially images, as a grid of discrete pixels. In the context of behavioral psychology, it is used to describe the discrete, countable responses or actions of a subject, often in experiments involving schedules of reinforcement.
Examples:
- The old computer screen displayed images in a low-resolution raster format.
- In the experiment, the data was recorded as a raster of individual responses over time.
- Graphic designers often work with both vector and raster images, each suited for different purposes.
Bumble is a specific online dating application that differentiates itself by requiring women to make the first move in heterosexual matches. It is a proper noun referring to this particular platform.
Examples:
- She decided to try Bumble after hearing positive reviews from her friends.
- On Bumble, if a match is made, the woman has 24 hours to initiate a conversation.
- He created a profile on Bumble, hoping to meet new people in the city.
Repetitive describes something that involves repeating the same action or sound over and over again. It often implies a monotonous or unvarying quality.
Examples:
- The factory work was highly repetitive, performing the same task hundreds of times an hour.
- She found the repetitive drum beat to be surprisingly calming.
- His arguments became repetitive, circling back to the same points without adding new insights.
Brad is a proper noun, referring to a specific individual named Brad, who is mentioned in the text as having built a prototype of the application.
Examples:
- Brad presented his innovative idea to the investment committee.
- The project was successfully completed thanks to Brad's tireless efforts.
- Brad is known for his ability to solve complex problems efficiently.
Hottie is an informal term for an attractive person. It is a casual and somewhat colloquial way to refer to someone considered physically appealing.
Examples:
- The magazine cover featured a hottie from the latest action movie.
- He saw a hottie across the room and nervously tried to catch her eye.
- She joked with her friend about spotting a hottie at the coffee shop.
To bypass means to go around or avoid something, often to get to a destination more quickly or to circumvent a problem or obstacle. In the context of an app, it means to circumvent a rule or restriction.
Examples:
- They decided to bypass the congested city center by taking the ring road.
- The new software update allows users to bypass the initial setup wizard.
- He found a way to bypass the security system and access the restricted files.
Dong is a slang term for a penis. It is a vulgar and informal word.
Examples:
- The comedian used a crude joke involving the word 'dong'.
- He overheard a group of teenagers using the word 'dong' in their conversation.
- The graffiti on the wall included a drawing of a 'dong'.
Hinge is a specific online dating application that focuses on helping users find more serious relationships by connecting them with friends of friends. It is a proper noun referring to this particular platform.
Examples:
- She preferred Hinge over other dating apps because it encouraged more thoughtful interactions.
- On Hinge, users answer prompts to showcase their personality rather than just uploading photos.
- He met his current partner through Hinge, after being recommended by a mutual friend.
To counteract means to act against something in order to reduce its force or neutralize its effect. It implies taking an opposing action to mitigate a negative influence.
Examples:
- The doctor prescribed medication to counteract the side effects of the treatment.
- The new policy was designed to counteract the rising rates of inflation.
- She tried to counteract the negative comments with positive reinforcement.
Sororities are social organizations for female students at colleges and universities, typically identified by Greek letters. They often provide housing, social activities, and community service opportunities.
Examples:
- Many college students join sororities for the social connections and networking opportunities.
- The sororities on campus organized a joint charity event to raise money for local shelters.
- She lived in the sorority house during her sophomore year, enjoying the communal living experience.
Spat, in this context, is the past tense of 'spit', meaning to eject saliva from the mouth. Figuratively, it can also mean to utter in a quick, sharp, or angry manner, or to expend money quickly or carelessly.
Examples:
- He spat out the bitter medicine immediately.
- The old man spat on the ground before continuing his story.
- The company had already spat out millions into the failing project before realizing its mistake.
Doodads are small, often decorative or non-essential, objects or gadgets. It is an informal term for a trinket or a small, unnamed item.
Examples:
- His desk was cluttered with various electronic doodads and charging cables.
- She loved collecting antique doodads from flea markets.
- The new car came with all sorts of fancy doodads, but he wasn't sure what half of them did.
Frat is an informal abbreviation for fraternity, which is a social organization for male students at colleges and universities, typically identified by Greek letters. They often provide housing, social activities, and community service opportunities.
Examples:
- He joined a frat in his freshman year, hoping to make new friends.
- The frat house was known for hosting lively parties every weekend.
- Many successful alumni remain connected to their frat long after graduation.