By: William Blakley, Maria Soledad Gutierrez, Zadyn Higgins, Ellie Mickey, Jose Morales, Kiara DeWitt, Aaliyah Sims and Tyler Spencer Brown.
Once stigmatized, dating apps are now part of the college social landscape. Students described a range of experiences, from casual swiping to deception, reflecting how digital dating has become normalized. Their responses highlight shifting attitudes about intimacy, safety, and connection in an increasingly app-driven social life. A Columbia College Chicago Introduction to Journalism class recently asked students on campus for their views.
General thoughts on dating apps?
“People want to be dating, and people want to be doing it quickly. And it’s like, instant gratification. And nobody’s really like into commitment these days, so you can really sort of just have at it and do whatever. Like, what are we doing? Oh my gosh: Just go on Craigslist. Come on! Bring Craigslist back! Bring Craigslist back!”
Sabrina Borg, junior
“I’m convinced the love of my life is not on Hinge or on Tinder. So I’ll find them naturally.”
Cornell Franklin-Smith, film and television major
“There’s such a facade that you put up when you are on a dating app that I think is not conducive to real-life interactions. Of course, there are success stories, but it is a very small minority.”
Alden Reyns, junior majoring in film and television
“They don’t lead to lasting relationships. It’s mostly online interaction. It’s become a common thing to have them just to have them rather than have a genuine connection.”
Joey Martinez
Dating apps versus in-person?
“It’s really hard to be authentic when crafting how you want people to perceive you. Whereas in-person dating, it’s a little bit more authentic. It’s more honest, it’s more vulnerable.”
Jamey Rabon, senior majoring in creative writing
Downsides of the apps?
“There was one guy that didn’t look like his picture, and I still stayed because I made a commitment, but I was there for like 10 minutes.”
Kameron Murray, junior
“Dating apps are really draining. It kind of has the same effect as social media. You kind of just sit there.”
Jordan Lowery, junior
“I met one guy off (Tinder). Ironically, he knew someone in my family. Everything that he told me with us talking was a lie.”
Andrea Childress, senior
What new features would you like to see on the apps?
“I would definitely love an events tab that tells you about certain events that are going on in your area. If there’s certain events that are being created for people to just go around and just attend to either make friends or even find that special someone.”
Max Bertrand, senior majoring in game design