Despite the passing of Valentine’s Day, many of us are still searching for that special someone to share our lives and newly-discounted chocolates with.

And while we are on the topic of romance and trying not to be alone for the rest of our lives, it seems a perfectly opportune time to discuss the college dating phenomenon that is the app Tinder.

Tinder is a matchmaking mobile app available for both Android and iOS (because love knows no operating system) that uses geolocation technology to totally-not-creepily find compatible matches near you.

Whether from personal curiosity or at the unrelenting recommendation of that one friend we all have, it is likely that we have all, at one point or another, explored the world of Tinder.

Getting a Tinder can in some ways be considered a rite of passage, much like drinking or other morally questionable but super fun activities. Except here, the difference is, instead of just casually toying with our health, the collateral is our emotions.

Feelings are like the digestive system. They are necessary for human life, but pretty nasty when you really think about it. And while we all love the warm fuzzies, (in any situation where actual emotions are at stake) we also have to take into account their less-appreciated cousin, the cold grossies.

This is especially relevant in regards to Tinder, in which time and emotions are the buy in to a game with arguably similar winning odds as Vegas. Not to knock the app entirely, but the fact remains that there is absolutely no guarantee that one will yield any results from their gamble.

That all being said, Tinder can be addicting.

If dating is a game, getting a Tinder is like entering with a top-of-the-line controller, a subscription to Xbox Live Gold, and infinite power ups.

But when entering the game, be warned. There are no rules here. There is no referee to call a foul, even when you and your seven closest friends agree that the other player made a totally unfair move.

While Tinder may have a reputation for being less a dating app and more a mating app, it should not be discounted entirely, nor function as another reason for adults to continue their irrational fear of social networking and the interwebs.

Many purport it to be an excellent place to meet people and bond over much more than just shared interests and slight superficiality. In a community as large as WSU, it serves a very relevant purpose as a medium for which people can connect and communicate. And while billed as primarily for romantic connections, platonic ones are also possible, believe it or not.