“What is the two sentence description that’s supposed to define my entire person?”

It’s the only thing on anyone’s mind as they set up their first Tinder account, said Rose Rezaei, during a modern relationships- themed commUNITY Dialogue with Center for Health and Wellness colleague Kori Pruett.

During the event — "Swipe Right for __________ ?” — Pruett revealed her former Tinder bio, which received a lot of laughter from the crowd. She described herself as “a world traveler looking for more than a layover.”

Rezaei and Pruett’s presentation about social media’s effect on relationships and hookup culture gave the audience a chance to examine their own dating practices by delving into the world of online communication.

The two touched on conceptions about social media leading to the death of face-to-face communication and hookup culture leading to the death of dating.

“What is our intention when we enter into different apps, dating services or relationships with people?” Pruett asked. “What are we looking for, what is the other person looking for, and how do we communicate that with each other?”

They talked about how the importance of consistent check-ins and self-evaluations to make sure the relationship in question is progressing the way both parties intend.

Overall, Rezaei and Pruett’s examination of social media’s impact on dating culture centered on the idea that respectfully “sliding into someone’s DMs” is fine so long as proactive communication is not lost in the process.

– Charlie Andelman