Did you have to restrain a shudder when that girl you took out said she identified as a feminist? Did you pull out your “Oh, I have a thing” when the guy who bought you coffee said the U.S. should overthrow Assad? Do you want a romantic relationship that is politically compatible?
Why should you inconvenience yourself by leaving your personal echo-chamber? Never go on a politically mis-matched date again with candiDate, a new dating app that connects people with shared values and political opinions!
I tried going on a date with a democrat once. They didn’t show up. =(
— InfoSec Taylor Swift (@SwiftOnSecurity) November 6, 2014
Billed as “the thoughtful person’s Tinder,” candiDate has a preliminary quiz where users vote “Yay” or “Nay” on issues like abortion, gun control, health care, taxes, defense spending and the environment. Users browse members of Congress with voting records similar to the selected answers and then vote “Yay” or “Nay” on these representatives and senators. The app uses this information to match users to their best “candiDate” among other users in their area. Proceed to caucus.
CandiDate was created by HelpsGood, “an integrated agency focused on social good,” whatever that means.
“We’re excited to launch this dating app that connects people in a profoundly meaningful way. If you’re looking for a hookup, use Tinder. If you’re looking for a deeper connection with someone who shares your values on core issue positions, use candiDate,” said Michael Bellavia, CEO of HelpsGood, in a press release. “Republican, Democrat, Independent, Tea Party, Green or even if you just like watching “Veep” or “House of Cards”, there’s a candiDate waiting to be matched to you.”
But HelpsGood may have just traded Tinder’s version of vanity for its own version that includes political ego stroking. Is encouraging young Americans to become even more politically insular really good for them and the country?
According to a June Pew Research study, Americans are increasingly ideologically divided and view their political opponents “as a threat to the nation’s well-being.” But you knew that already, didn’t you?
Consistently liberal and consistently conservative Americans are more likely than others to say that most of their close friends share their political views. As Pew put it, “liberals and conservatives disagree over where they want to live, the kind of people they want to live around and even whom they would welcome into their families.”
Thankfully, the majority of Americans do not see either party as a threat to the country and most want government to compromise, but these Americans, who probably call themselves “moderates,” are less likely to vote and less likely to donate to political campaigns. The most polarized Americans are the most engaged. And the mountain of moderates that made the country tall and agreeable is weathering down.
So go ahead and use candiDate. Never date a Democrat again! Or a Republican! Never learn anything new and never risk viewing your political opponents as actual people! Sounds like a winning app to me.
