The Internet and mobile phones have drastically changed the way that people communicate, the way we socialize. Socializing and sparking up a conversation with someone use to be the way to meet to people, friends or love interests. Internet and Mobile phones have changed that. 2013 Online relationships compared to other means. There has been online dating services for a while now, but something recent that has come in the form of an App on almost every singles smart phone is ‘Tinder’. With new the new age of technology it looks like going out and meeting new people or talking to strangers has been replaced my swiping left or right. Maybe Tinder is just there for more of a one-night stand situation. Caroline Kent gave a ‘Woman’s perspective’ on Tinder. Story here. As Kent puts in her article ‘the virtual dating has come down to the simple question hot or not’. Cutting out everything else (maybe some similar interests and an about me) down to a simple yes or no. This is becoming an increasingly popular App to download on the single persons smart phone. This impacts the Public Sphere in multiple ways. Firstly it’s changing the very way people are meeting each other, changing the social groups that are being created. You may find great catch on tinder while riding the train home, but miss out on a great friend by not talking to the person next to you. Secondly it’s in the conversation between friends. One friend suggests it to another ‘why don’t you download it?’ from one friend to another then spreading through until it becomes a daily conversation of what matches each friend has for the day. 
Tinder has got to the point where a man has travelled across North America using the App. Story here. Twenty four year old Daniel Beaumont Traveled 7’500 miles (about 12’070 Km’s) by getting various lifts from girls he matched with on tinder. Not only is there debate and talk about the impacts of ‘Tinder’, but also, the public Sphere is being molded and changed into a completely new thing by this App. The debate of what tinder gets you, friends, Partners or just a one-night stand. Because someone has swiped right and matched you, how big of an invitation is that. Eli Esptein explains how he downloaded tinder because of friends influence (debate from his friend group public sphere), his result is after two or more dates you will get laid. Story here. One Smart phone App cutting out the entire process of meeting someone, getting to know them and getting them to like you. Hopefully there will be other lengthy processes cut down to size by Phone Apps. Technology is changing the way that public groups are made, what Public Spheres debate about and where they are debated.
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grindingforgrades 
Your post has caught my by surprise with how people make use of tinder. Personally, I thought it was just an app where people only rate another “hot or not” at first glance but it appears to be more than just that.
It’s sometimes ridiculous how technology can evolve into something that can harm society’s way of thinking and how it affects our generations such as tinder. Tinder seems to be taking the “judging of someone’s appearance” to a whole new level. The stories you brought up was also quite interesting and I was intrigued with the story of Eli with his experience on Tinder. Though a rather dangerous move he did because he didn’t mention if he considered how the girl would feel about his response or if the girl will ever find out he lied because she may check out his Facebook. Nonetheless, it is a very interesting story to read, if one has never used Tinder or an online dating site.
It also makes me feel rather insecure if I get into something like Tinder and I’m sure others as well would feel the same about their self-esteem. I only hope that the “hot or not” mind-set doesn’t become such an influence on people, it would change how people view everyone around them in real life.
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This post is really good. I love how you incorporated something like Tinder to fit the topic. It was a unique post, and the part about that Daniel guy was really intriguing! I don’t know if it’s cool, or concerning. Maybe a little of both? You set it out really well, so it’s easy to follow. I particularly like how you put in a few hyperlinks, so that if people want to read more on what you’re saying they can. Maybe you could have briefly extended on the concept, and wrote about how people are concerned that younger people are spending too much time on their phones, and that it’s bad for their social skills, therefore bringing up issues, and discussions in the public sphere. You could also include a definition of a public sphere for the readers that don’t know what that is. Buut this post was fun to read! I had Tinder for a day, after being harassed by my friend to get it. It was crazy to think that something like Tinder is acceptable in our society. After getting too many vulgar requests I quickly deleted the app, it was an experience though. I think technology, and apps like Tinder, has made forward inappropriate comments a normal thing. I mean Tinder conveys the idea that it’s okay to judge people solely on looks.
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Firstly really liked the post, I found it really grabbed my focus and interested me!
It’s so crazy how much technology has influenced our socialisation with others and using Tinder as an example for how we meet new people was a really great idea, I personally haven’t used it but I have had a look at my friends profile and had a few goes of swiping left or right and it really does just come down to ‘hot or not’. All the real information you get about the person is a couple of lines they provide and a photo.
I found the part about Daniel to be really interesting (thanks for adding the hyperlink to the article!), an amazing achievement on his behalf honestly, crazy that he managed to get that far by using tinder and hitch-hiking! Again really great post, keep it up! 🙂
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I think that Tinder is a on point example of a modern public sphere, but in my opinion it’s also a pretty sad public sphere where people connect through physical attributes rather then shared ideas.
I’m a hater of Tinder for its ability to enable people to shallowly interact with others, and think that such ways of interacting are damaging to individuals self-esteem (either by boosting it too much or diminishing it) and general well being in their real life.
I also still cant fathom the fact that people actually use the app seriously, allowing such destructive results to occur, but your post and study on Daniel Beaumont is proof that these ridiculous ways of socialising can be progressive and put to good use. The very simple and superficial basis for ‘matching’ with people on tinder (finding one another physically attractive), usually results in any real interaction with a match that will also be simple and shallow, such as the one night stand situation you mentioned. I like that this Beaumont guy has challenged that and used this public sphere differently. Very interesting post!
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