There’s nothing political about online dating, right? Well, not exactly. With only days until the 2016 presidential election, the online dating world has become decidedly political.
Online dating app Tinder has teamed up with Rock the Vote for a Swipe the Vote Poll, to help users find their true candidate match. Users in the U.S., Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, France, Germany, India, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Russia, Spain and the U.K. are now able to swipe on the major issues so that they can see which candidate matches up with their views and if their choice for president is really consistent with their swipes.
By swiping right or left on issues like taxes, immigration, or gun control, users can share their stances on this election’s most important topics. As Rosette Pambakian, Vice President, Global Communications & Branding told Bustle, “We selected these issues because they are some of the most talked-about topics in this election and the most important to our Millennial audience.” As she notes, “Helping our users understand these topics will help them choose the political candidate most aligned with their views.”
After swiping on election issues and finding their presidential match, users will then be directed to their closest polling station. While I’m not sure whether singles will be casting their vote based on a Tinder match, anything that encourages people to get out and vote, seems like a good idea.
However, if this election cycle has taught us anything, it’s that a large chunk of America is very divided when it comes to politics. What if an online dating app wasn’t just able to show you which president you should be voting for based on your views, but which president your potential dates were planning on voting for? Would you still use this feature? Or better yet, would you want to date someone who has completely different political views than your own?
My politics are very important to me, so I’m not interested in dating anyone whose views fall on the opposite end of the political spectrum, but everyone is different. Here’s a few things to keep in mind when considering a potential date’s political views:
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How much importance do you place on politics?
I grew up in a government household, where a lot of my immediate and extended family either worked for the government and/or were politically active. So, my politics are something that were embedded in me from a young age. They’ve evolved as I’ve grown up and become an independent adult, but the core of my beliefs haven’t changed. However, not everyone grew up in this way.
I’ve met people who don’t really have any political views whatsoever or don’t even believe in organized government. Everyone has their own truth and there are no right or wrong answers here. If politics aren’t a big deal to you, dating someone with different views isn’t going to be a big deal either.
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Are you prepared to “agree to disagree?”
Will you always be be at each other’s throats over your disparate political views? Because a healthy and peaceful relationship that doesn’t make. If you’re going to date someone with different views than your own, you need to let go enough to be able to “agree to disagree.” In other words, you have to accept and respect your date’s political views as different but still valid. This might involve certain boundaries where you agree not to discuss politics or certain hot button topics. If you aren’t able to do that, you shouldn’t be dating this person.
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Is it a deal breaker?
At the end of the day it all comes down to individual choice. For example, I personally wouldn’t be able to date someone who supported a certain eccentrically coiffed tycoon-turned-reality-star-turned-presidential-candidate because his platform goes against every fiber of my being. Also, I love to discuss politics. I don’t think I could make a pact not to discuss something I’m passionate about because it would feel like I was holding back an essential part of myself from the person I’m dating.
The person I’m dating doesn’t have to share my exact political views, but if they’re vastly different political from my own, it’s a dealbreaker. With that said, not everyone is going to feel the same way I do. At the end of the day it all comes down to identifying how you feel, the kind of relationship or dating experience you want and honouring those feelings.
