The First Time User’s Guide to the Ins and Outs of Grindr
Ask questions until you feel satisfied, and if they can’t or don’t want to answer the questions that you need to feel comfortable, then move onto another person. When you log in for the first time, you have to acclimate to Grindr’s lexicon, starting with your profile. The process is very flexible — you can choose what you want to include or leave out. The more information you provide, however, the more somebody has to judge you upon, whether positively or negatively.
Selecting a profile photo in the grid view will display that user’s full profile and photos, as well as the option to chat, send a „tap,“ send pictures, video call, and share one’s precise location. Make no mistake, Grindr is more about hooking up than dating. It’s basically a 24/7 merry-go-round of sex in your immediate locale and uses geolocation to provide an approximate location of the closest users to serve up on the “Nearby” grid. There’s also a “Fresh” grid that serves you up people who are the closest and who have been online in the past hour, created their profile in the past 72 hours or have uploaded a new photo in the past 24 hours. Since launching in 2009, Grindr has grown into the largest social networking app for gay, bi, trans, and queer people.
User location triangulation
With over half of all gay couples meeting online, if you’re looking for love, you might wanna plug in. (Not like that. Like, with your phone. You know what I mean.) Compared to 22% of the general population, LGBTQA+ couples meet online by an overwhelming 67%. And then, there’s more lingo about people’s preferences and how they would like to go about pursuing those. Femme or fem means more feminine-presenting people, while masc is short for masculine.
- Leather refers to a sexual fetish for leather, such as suits or whips.
- And then, there’s more lingo about people’s preferences and how they would like to go about pursuing those.
- In 2009, Apple announced that the 2nd-generation iPhone would accommodate 3rd-party apps.
- “Anyone can potentially be a victim, however experienced, savvy or safe an app user you are.
- It is not your fault,” says GALOP, an LGBT+ anti-abuse charity.
Trans refers to the transgender identity, and poz refers to someone who is HIV-positive. Finally, sober means the person is not looking to be under https://www.dowjonesrisk.com/ the influence of drugs or alcohol if they hook up with someone. Most of those you’ll meet on Grindr will not fit into one single category.
For a population that’s disproportionally at risk for substance use, it could be a little triggering to let struggling users know that a quick score (PNP, or “party and play”) is just 400 feet away. Of course, everyone knows that banning one terminology or means just invites another to sprout up in its place like a Hydra. Grindr is the place for meeting people, including your friendly (ish? Maybe?) neighbourhood drug dealer.
I personally don’t think there’s anything wrong with having a stronger preference towards a certain demographic. I understand that they are trying to be inclusive but people are attracted to what they are attracted to. I’m Hispanic and I’ve met plenty of people who say they aren’t interested in Latinos. It’s a generalization, but I’m okay with it because that person is clearly not meant for me, and I don’t want them apart of my life. I say allow people to select what they like and allow others to judge them for their character. Grindr is a place to advocate for yourself and not worry about what other people think or want until you actually meet up.
About this app
If a potential partner isn’t willing to meet you where you’re at, then it’s probably not going to be a good experience anyway. Along those lines, don’t take any actions or sentiments expressed by others personally. You are so much more of a beautiful human being than can be conveyed on Grindr.
It definitely doesn’t have as many bugs and crashes as it once used to. They have implemented changes to filters which is nice, but I also do have some suggestions I’d like to see included in the app. I do like how no one can screenshot the albums in your photo, but I think this should just be a general inclusivity for any photo that is sent out. I would also like to see the race category put back into place.
Similar apps
We have millions of daily users who use our location-based technology in almost every country in every corner of the planet. Launched in 2009, Grindr is “the world’s largest social networking app for gay, bi, trans and queer people.” The app even preceded the advent of Tinder, the most popular dating app in America. However, “social networking” on Grindr can only be taken in the broadest sense. People don’t go on the app to professionally network with others or chat with people, and if they do, better places exist.
Probably like 70 percent of the people on it are DTF straight away, which means you need to work out exactly what you want and communicate it clearly. Another study out of California State Polytechnic did a deep dive in the words that Grindr used to describe it on social media, and the results were… not great. Not only did users talk serious shit about what the researchers delicately called “toxic behaviour,” but they also continued to use the app to validate their self-image after it had already worn their self-esteem to a nub. Grindr is a gay hookup app, regardless of what someone may tell themselves when they enter this unfortunately notorious world.
Most people are on Grindr for one reason and one reason only — to have sex. “Anyone can potentially be a victim, however experienced, savvy or safe an app user you are. It is not your fault,” says GALOP, an LGBT+ anti-abuse charity.
Because of this, there are mixed responses whether they are useful or problematic. There is no shame in partaking in hookup culture, nor should there be any pressure to have sex. So, for those who want to use the app for the first time but are anxious about its reputation, here’s your guide to Grindr and its less-than-obvious aspects. And not just because that Equinox dude with the dimples didn’t text you back, although that one stings too. In a study of current apps from the Center for Humane Technology, Grindr was the number one most misery-inducing app used, with 77% of users reporting regret and just basic shitty vibes after using the app. Compounding this is that the average user spends two hours a day on Grindr.
Grindr 101: The History of Grindr & Queer Digital Dating
Discreet or down low, often abbreviated DL, means that person wants to maintain a level of anonymity for whatever reason. Finally, you may encounter people looking for “NSA” fun, which stands for “no strings attached.” They’re looking for sex but without the emotional attachment. “What’s up” is now less a greeting and more of a check to see if somebody will be responsive or not. “What are you into” is still getting to know about your interests, but don’t be naive about what kind of interests (most people do not waste time on this app).