Gay culture underwent a seismic vibe shift in 2009 with the launch of Grindr.
The ubiquitous dating app that changed the way queer men meet and hookup celebrated turning 15 this week and with it came a lot of discourse on TwitterX Gay Twitter™.
For better or worse, Grindr has altered the way we communicate online and IRL. Besides emboldening people to say things on the app they would never utter in person and nearly extinguishing the once tried-and-true concept of cruising inside gay bars, it’s lead to the controversial practice of sharing Grindr screenshots.
While photos in albums that are shared in a conversation can’t be screengrabbed, the same is not true about the private text exchanges within the app.
Initially, images of chats were shared as a way to get a laugh out of some of our most awkward social interactions. However, over time many have grown to find the practice to be exploitative, mean and created purely to garner clout or go viral online. Still others argue it’s a safety mechanism that can be used to call out hateful speech and behavior.
I know it’s gauche to post Grindr screenshots, but come on man. It was literally a joke with our friends and now you’ve hit me up several times since. pic.twitter.com/SFRv9doEwV
— Your (gentle) dungeon master (@urdungeonmaster) March 26, 2024
I do think we need a single authority on Grindr screenshots who decides either it is funny/worth posting or permanently deletes your account on the spot
So, what do you think? Is sharing your dating app DMs funny, rude or just plain tired? In 2024, should people still be posting their Grindr screenshots on social media? Sound off in the comments below…
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Besides emboldening people to say things on the app they would never utter in person and nearly extinguishing the once tried-and-true concept of cruising inside gay bars, it’s led to the controversial practice of sharing Grindr screenshots.
The problem is that people are attempting to engage in very intimate conversations via social media, which offers zero privacy. As a result, their most intimate and vulnerable exchanges become fodder for a wide range of miserable, petty trolls who are only too happy to humiliate the sender.
Wow, posting intimate secrets as well as suggestive pictures on the internet. Who da thunk and who in their right mind still does this knowing the consequences? Posting suggestive or embarrasing pictures as well as verbal exchanges is something teen agers would do as they aren’t aware of the dangers and don’t know any better. Adults on the other hand should know better. Anything negative such a suggestive or provocative photo can and will be used against you and can cause dire consequences in the future. Indiscressions like this can prevent you from getting into law school of medical school as these institutions vett their potential students for improper behavior and God forbid if you’re up for the job of a lifetime, and if for some reason the employer discovers this, it can disqualify you. That said, what happened to good old meeting people in a bar or wherever where you can get a feeling if it’s right whereas with some app, you don’t know if the other person s some kind of freak, fake, liar, creep or loser.
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bachy
Besides emboldening people to say things on the app they would never utter in person and nearly extinguishing the once tried-and-true concept of cruising inside gay bars, it’s led to the controversial practice of sharing Grindr screenshots.
The problem is that people are attempting to engage in very intimate conversations via social media, which offers zero privacy. As a result, their most intimate and vulnerable exchanges become fodder for a wide range of miserable, petty trolls who are only too happy to humiliate the sender.
Privacy is a good thing, people.
winemaker
Wow, posting intimate secrets as well as suggestive pictures on the internet. Who da thunk and who in their right mind still does this knowing the consequences? Posting suggestive or embarrasing pictures as well as verbal exchanges is something teen agers would do as they aren’t aware of the dangers and don’t know any better. Adults on the other hand should know better. Anything negative such a suggestive or provocative photo can and will be used against you and can cause dire consequences in the future. Indiscressions like this can prevent you from getting into law school of medical school as these institutions vett their potential students for improper behavior and God forbid if you’re up for the job of a lifetime, and if for some reason the employer discovers this, it can disqualify you. That said, what happened to good old meeting people in a bar or wherever where you can get a feeling if it’s right whereas with some app, you don’t know if the other person s some kind of freak, fake, liar, creep or loser.