Tinder loving buddies

Move over hook-up scenes, welcome friendship. Or so it seems. Swiping right can also lead to the blooming of beautiful platonic relationships! In keeping with a healthy trend that’s gaining momentum in the city; we get chatty with millennial users of popular dating apps who chronicle interesting anecdotes about building authentic connections over a series of casual dates.

 Susheel (name changed), a cloud computing expert, moved into the city from Trivandrum, Kerala, over a year ago. New to the city among many new faces, he found solace in Tinder. “I installed tinder because I didn’t know anyone here. I wanted to meet people with whom I could love to explore new places and try new food. The only way I could do that was by meeting people who shared similar interests. In these dating apps, along with the person’s picture, they also give a short bio; a space for people to mention their interests, hobbies and what they are looking for. I have found many likeminded people here who are still my friends. It doesn’t mean we are constantly in touch, but those random meet-ups and unexpected long calls is all we need to keep our friendship going.”

Bengaluru, the IT hub is home to not only engineers and architects but artsy folk and free-thinkers. How can you restrict yourself to meeting people from the same background when there is a whole new, colourful lot?

Deep Shah, a photographer, is one of those who enjoys meeting people from different backgrounds. “I moved into the city for work and that restricted the kind of people I met. My office was filled with engineers, doctors and Bcom graduates. So, when I installed Tinder, I was looking for people from different backgrounds; people with whom I could have interesting conversations. Restricting my friends circle to work would limit my thinking and opportunities. I believe it is important to separate work life from one’s own personal life.”

For some, the reason was as simple as being bored and not being able to meet people that they got along with. Sanjana (name changed) says, “Most people I know are a part of some group. Groups that are restricted to the state they come from or the language they speak. I did not get along very well with them neither did I find a connection. But, on these dating apps, I’ve met some amazing people who respect why I am there.”

The topic of debate here is, how healthy is this trend? Meeting people who you have no clue about, to forming a relationship; even if not a romantic one: could it be a negative trend?

Romica Vasudev, a sociologist, is in full support. “It’s a good platform to connect with like-minded people. You interact with so many people on a day-to-day basis. These platforms act as a filter in terms of who you want to meet and why. It is a positive trend that people want to meet new people and have new experiences. How we interact with people today has changed tremendously. Now, there is a clean line that separates work places from the kind of people you hang out with. There is a clear demarcation between one's public and private life. Meeting new people, learning about their experiences can be very insightful and motivating."