If you thought the guys on Tinder were sore losers, just wait until you see how the folks behind the dating app handle rejection. (Hint: not well).
For Vanity Fair's September issue, journalist Nancy Jo Sales penned an article documenting the decline of romance in the digital age and focusing specifically on the harmful effect apps — like Tinder — have on the dating experience.
The article, titled “Tinder and the Dawn of the 'Dating Apocolypse,'" was posted to the magazine's website sometime this week, and when the folks over at Tinder saw it — well, suffice it to say, they were not happy.
So yesterday, the app took to Twitter to express contempt for the article have a meltdown.
What unfolded was the ultimate “Bye Felipe” moment (and the irony of that is not lost on us). All in all, there were more than 30 tweets directed at Ms. Sales, each of which sounded more like the words of an ego wounded little boy than of a representative for an international corporation.
There are really no words to describe just how cringeworthy Tinder's reaction to Sales' article was. So instead of trying, I'll let you see the drama for yourself.
Check it out below.
Tinder's four-hour meltdown began innocently enough...
Hey @nancyjosales — that survey is incorrect. If you're interested in having a factual conversation, we're here. https://t.co/SLWlTLvJuf — Tinder (@Tinder) August 11, 2015
...but then it immediately got weird.
-@VanityFair Little known fact: sex was invented in 2012 when Tinder was launched. — Tinder (@Tinder) August 11, 2015
The app cited its own research in an attempt to disprove Sales' claims...
-@VanityFair & @nancyjosales — we have lots of data. We surveyed 265,000 of our users. But it doesn't seem like you're interested in facts. — Tinder (@Tinder) August 11, 2015
Our actual data says that 1.7% of Tinder users are married — not 30% as the preposterous GlobalWebIndex article indicated. — Tinder (@Tinder) August 11, 2015
It's disappointing that @VanityFair thought that the tiny number of people you found for your article represent our entire global userbase — Tinder (@Tinder) August 11, 2015
...and backed that research up with exact figures for proof (See: "a sh*t ton of marriages" and "tons and tons [of people]").
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
Our data tells us that the vast majority of Tinder users are looking for meaningful connections. — Tinder (@Tinder) August 11, 2015
And our data also tells us that Tinder actually creates those meaningful connections. — Tinder (@Tinder) August 11, 2015
We have tons and tons of emails from people that have all kinds of amazing experiences on Tinder. — Tinder (@Tinder) August 11, 2015
And then, Tinder just lost it and complained about all the things Sales didn't say.
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
Or how millions of Tinder users have connected their Instagram accounts, so potential matches can learn more about them. — Tinder (@Tinder) August 11, 2015
Or you could have talked about how everyone on Tinder is on an equal playing field. — Tinder (@Tinder) August 11, 2015
Whoever was tweeting doesn't seem to be too familiar with this whole "journalism" thing, either.
If you want to try to tear us down with one-sided journalism, well, that's your prerogative. — Tinder (@Tinder) August 11, 2015
Instead, your article took an incredibly biased view, which is disappointing. — Tinder (@Tinder) August 11, 2015
Sales, clearly amused, fired back with this...
My article isn't even about @Tinder lol — Nancy Jo Sales (@nancyjosales) August 12, 2015
...and pretty much shut 'em up with this.
@Tinder not clear: are you suggesting journalists need your okay to write about you? — Nancy Jo Sales (@nancyjosales) August 12, 2015
Even better? She's using the publicity to her advantage (and it's working beautifully).
'The Tinder Generation is real': app has online meltdown over Vanity Fair article http://t.co/tC0iDhs4Wr — Nancy Jo Sales (@nancyjosales) August 12, 2015
#ByeFelipe.
Tinder Completely Freaked Out On Twitter http://t.co/EPjddD5QCV via @WIRED — Nancy Jo Sales (@nancyjosales) August 12, 2015
Citations: Tinder Pissed At Vanity Fair Went On An Epic Tinder Rant (Mashable), Tinder And The Dawn Of The Dating Apocolypse (Vanity Fair)
