When the team at the West Hollywood-based meeting app Tinder got their hands on the most recent copy of Vanity Fair, they didn't like the reflection they saw in the mirror, or, to keep up with the times, the selfie they saw on their phone. With the headline Tinder and the Dawn of the “Dating Apocalypse”, the article characterized Tinder as part of a proliferation of hook-up culture — an image Tinder has tried to shake to little avail.
Hell hath no fury like a tech company scorned, and soon Tinder's Twitter account was railing against the article's merits, emphasizing Tinder's many uses and questioning the piece's journalistic merit. Why couldn't Vanity Fair have simply written a puff piece by working with Tinder's public relations department, the company actually wondered on Twitter.
First there was derision, then an apology. “Our intention was to highlight the many statistics and amazing stories that are sometimes left unpublished, and, in doing so, we overreacted,” the company said in a statement to The New York Times and other outlets in the bright light of the next day.
Still, many were left with the impression that Tinder was unhinged — not unlike a sort of crazy, pathetic person using Tinder itself.
Tinder freakout so perfectly on brand - esp. in terms of how men react to female crit on Tinder - that I suspect we are being trolled
— Shane Dingman (@shanedingman) August 12, 2015
Hmm. What would it be like to match with an entity as terrifying as Tinder's Twitter account? That's exactly what we imagine below.
Whenever someone asks if I'm into fitness 🍕🏃#NationalJunkFoodDay pic.twitter.com/XdwLYi19L2
— Tinder (@Tinder) July 21, 2015
Ha you're funny! Love a sense of humor. What brings you to Tinder lol?
Tinder users are on Tinder to meet people for all kinds of reasons. Sure, some of them — men and women — want to hook up.
— Tinder (@Tinder) August 11, 2015
Totally agree — down to be friends and just see what happens, you know?
Or talk to people that have made some of their best friends on Tinder.
— Tinder (@Tinder) August 11, 2015
The ability to meet people outside of your closed circle in this world is an immensely powerful thing.
— Tinder (@Tinder) August 11, 2015
Agreed! Tinder can be a little weird but it's definitely eye-opening.
Talk to the many Tinder couples — gay and straight — that have gotten married after meeting on Tinder.
— Tinder (@Tinder) August 11, 2015
Whoa! Big marriage talk already — LOL — jk I personally don't know if I want to get married?
Right now I'm mostly about hanging out trying to meet people, some clubbing. How about you?
Will this club have bacon? 😁💃 #friday pic.twitter.com/mua2Fx3pey
— Tinder (@Tinder) August 7, 2015
I'm a vegetarian lol it's for health reasons mostly. Anyway, what would you wear if we went on a first date (wouldn't have to be to the club!)
Found my first date outfit 💯 pic.twitter.com/aSRo0qML45
— Tinder (@Tinder) August 5, 2015
LOL psycho, huh? Idk, mental illness effects a lot of people and I hope we're all asking for the help we need.
Maybe we should start with dinner! Do you like to cook? I love going to the farmers market and getting fresh ingredients!
😏 #skills pic.twitter.com/afgDZnKUR5
— Tinder (@Tinder) August 1, 2015
Hmm. If you don't mind me asking, how do you get along with your exes?
Personally I try to remain friends, which I think speaks highly of a person.
When you see your ex in public. 😳 pic.twitter.com/OFHcXaL00b
— Tinder (@Tinder) July 26, 2015
We're fin-ished 😂💦🏊 pic.twitter.com/Rnvy3ww96G
— Tinder (@Tinder) August 3, 2015
I don't really like that — maybe we're not a great match. Which is cool too! Good talking to you you definitely seem perfect for somebody!
Users can’t message each other unless BOTH people are interested in one another.
— Tinder (@Tinder) August 11, 2015
Totally! But I don't think I'm interested and honestly i can't tell if you are?
You could have talked about how everyone on Tinder is authenticated through Facebook. And how we show users the friends they have in common.
— Tinder (@Tinder) August 11, 2015
Ummm...
This all creates social accountability so that Tinder users treat each other well.
— Tinder (@Tinder) August 11, 2015
Yeah, definitely, let's play nice okay? You're right, Tinder is about being cool to each other!
It’s about meeting new people for all kinds of reasons. Travel, dating, relationships, friends and a shit ton of marriages.
— Tinder (@Tinder) August 11, 2015
I really don't know why you're so focused on marriage... we haven't met and I told you I'm not sure I believe in it because of its roots in property exchange.
If you want to try to tear us down with one-sided journalism, well, that’s your prerogative.
— Tinder (@Tinder) August 11, 2015
This is just a humor piece!
Carrie Bradshaw would totally be into Tinder! http://t.co/G8w97mbgKl via @ELLEaus pic.twitter.com/tYjoVaB6LJ
— Tinder (@Tinder) June 30, 2015
Carrie Bradshaw wasn't really a journalist though....
#PREACH 🙌🏻 pic.twitter.com/nj269L95vn
— Tinder (@Tinder) June 8, 2015
He's the sweetest 😍 pic.twitter.com/iYEmRbVGNp
— Tinder (@Tinder) May 4, 2015
Okay you seem crazy and desperate.
WE GOT YOU pic.twitter.com/3NEo0Xq76y
— Tinder (@Tinder) May 1, 2015
I think I have to block you, I'm sorry this didn't go better.
Tinder is now available on Apple Watch! pic.twitter.com/pTkSH9omqb
— Tinder (@Tinder) May 5, 2015
Bye.