Tinder launched in Los Angeles in September of 2012 and activated a new take on the age old game of “hot or not”.  Tinder is a free app for the iPhone that connects to the user’s Facebook account to build a profile with a couple of photos. After creating the brief profile of interests and friends Tinder will show your photos to other Tinder users in your area.

Here’s how it works according to their Apple description:

1. Tinder shows you someone nearby it thinks you should know
2. You can anonymously like this person or skip to the next suggestion
3. If someone you like happens to like you back, then Tinder makes an introduction and lets you chat within the app

As we all know, the idea of “hot or not” is far from new and fresh, but regardless it is a concept that has been popular amongst the college-aged demographic noting back to the time of Facebook’s initial breakthrough as a “hot or not” website. A big thanks to its lack of rejection which is due to its unique anonymity, Tinder has spread through college campuses nationwide and has also inspired Tumblr accounts dedicated to the worst matches.

Although Tinder may not be the most serious dating app out there, it does appear to be the college student’s dream dating app. Whether students are using Tinder as a game or to stroke their narcissism – it is working.