You may be one of the lucky ones who have not had to venture into the wide, often weird world of dating apps but who hasn’t heard of Tinder, the app that made ‘swipe right’ a cultural phenomenon?
But let’s admit it, one of the most amusing things to come out of Tinder is the hilarious and often embarrassing encounters that many users have lived to tell.
In Malaysia, a Facebook page dedicated solely to these whacky stories is Tinder Confessions Malaysia.
Thatchnamoorthy Nellagapan, 29, a DJ and stand-up comedian, is the agony aunt who publishes these anonymous anecdotes about the most dreadful exchanges Malaysians have had on the dating app.
“I came across the Tinder Confessions Malaysia Facebook page four years ago and messaged the admin, saying I thought it was a very interesting page.
“We chatted and the then admin of the page, Dennis suggested I run the page along with him,” Thatchnamoorthy tells FMT.
Initially surprised by the suggestion, Thatchnamoorthy decided to give it a shot anyway, and getting quickly hooked on it, decided to become the loyal guardian of the Facebook page ever since.
To date, the page has posted 300 confessions and has 3,000 followers actively commenting on the confessions.
Handling the Facebook page has been a learning curve for Thatchnamoorthy, who explains that initially, he would eagerly post every single confession sent his way.
However, over time he became more discerning, posting only those which he knew would get the most reactions from Facebook users.
“Each confession submitted to us has to be thoroughly vetted – I have to understand the context of where the writer is coming from.
“We usually allow most confessions to go up but there are confessions that are too racist or homophobic which is definitely against our rules,” he says, adding that these confessions naturally never see the light of day.
He says that if a particularly interesting topic has been posted, he is bound to receive four to five similar confessions the very next day.
And like most other online sites, Tinder Confessions Malaysia has its fair share of keyboard warriors, who unleash the full extent of their venom once they get riled up over an issue.
Thatchnamoorthy says the issues that tend to incite much anger and debate online usually concern perverts who prey on women on the app, and those who hold unacceptable sexist views – at least as far as the keyboard warriors are concerned.
Meanwhile, the prevailing confusion is whether Tinder is meant for serious dating or casual hookups. Thatchnamoorthy prefers to take a philosophical stance on the issue, saying it’s whatever the user wants it to be.
“Thankfully more and more Malaysians have embraced the role dating apps play and are using Tinder as an avenue to find someone that matches their vibes.
“I believe we have come a long way in terms of acceptance. There is a stark difference between dating back then and how it is done today.”
Physical dating however, has taken quite a beating since the Covid-19 pandemic surfaced and this has unfortunately led to many unsavoury characters taking to Tinder to scam innocent users.
Thatchnamoorthy says he has received a fair number of confessions from users relating how they were scammed by those proclaiming not to have enough money to even buy food much less take a cab to meet them in person.
Anyone can submit their Tinder tales to Tinder Confessions Malaysia without fear that their identities will be revealed. Strictly anonymous, all that is required is your confession and nothing more.
“There are a few simple rules that people need to abide by when sending their confessions; keeping it short and simple (some confessions are 300 words long and that’s a no-no); for the grammar and spelling to be as accurate as possible; and to avoid naming individuals.”
Got a particularly awful Tinder tale to tell or just want to rant about how the dating game has changed beyond recognition?
Head to Tinder Confessions Malaysia’s Facebook page.
Well, as the admin says, it’s a chance for you to air your dirty laundry so you can feel better later on.