Dating apps were created to get rid of the awkward first encounter; to give you the feeling that you’re not meeting up with a complete stranger, even though you are. It takes guts to walk up to someone and introduce yourself, making it clear that you want to date them or hang out with them with purposes other than friendship.
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Tinder wants to create something new by pairing you up with people who hang out at the same bars and places than you with their new feature, aptly called “Places.” Currently undergoing its testing stage in Australia and Chile, Places is an attempt for the company to facilitate something more than a hookup, with the belief that people who go to the same places and events have similar interests and thus more potential for relationships.
Dating apps have become so pervasive and part of our day to day lives that they’re basically another side of social media. You swipe for a while, maybe with your friends or with a drink, and then you do something else. You might meet up with someone, but the odds of that resulting in a relationship are few. Samantha Stevens, Tinder’s director of location products claims that Places wants to “create more genuine connections and higher quality conversations,” deepening what other dating apps are offering nowadays.
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Wired reports that Places is a collaboration between Foursquare and Tinder, gathering information from both apps and that it’ll be completely optional for users. Once someone decides to turn on the feature, the app will gather data from places you go, such as restaurants, venues, and bars, avoiding unromantic and potentially dangerous spots such as your doctor, your bank, and other non-social activities. The app is also designed to put your spots on the map once you’ve left the place and 30 minutes have passed, avoiding a current broadcast of your location.
