Edge – New York, New York ‘Cruising in the Age of Gay Mobile Apps’

When Grindr CEO and founder Joel Simkhai went about creating the gay dating smartphone app for the iPhone that has now become a two million-user, multi-operating system enterprise, he was simply looking to build a mechanism to make it easier for gay, bi, and otherwise curious men to meet each other.

But as the phenomenon continues to spread to new platforms (including the Android and Blackberry, as of last month), demographics, (via its lesbian- and straight-inclusive Project Amicus) and inspire other apps (namely Scruff and the latest addition, GuySpy) who tweak the formula to add other components and capabilities, it appears increasing likely that the when, how, and where of queer men and very possibly others meeting and hooking up will never be quite the same.

The trend has led to some hysterical, terrified headlines — as a May 27 Vanity Fair article proclaimed, “Grindr: Welcome to the world’s biggest, scariest gay bar.” Still other queer pundits fear the post-Grindr era will contribute further to the demise of gay men meeting the good, old-fashioned away — in bars, parks, and a variety of gayborhood hotspots and haunts — as the younger, tech-savvy generations turn instead to pursuing guys exclusively via mobile devices.

But despite all the histrionics, anecdotal evidence seems to point toward a contrary effect as many gays are using GPS dating platforms like Grindr and GuySpy to supplement, rather than replace altogether, the sometimes sticky, shady world of gay barhopping and face-to-face human interaction of all types.

That was exactly the intention, according to Simkhai, who told EDGE he felt apps like his are actually helping to “get people back into the bars.” The users of his app spend an average of nearly an hour and a half logged on and are literally located all over the world these days — half the app’s users live outside the United States and metro centers like London and Tokyo are among their most popular locales.

“You’re no longer confined to a computer to meet someone virtually,” he noted. “You can do it anywhere and it’s more integrated into your real life. You don’t have to stay at home; instead you can go out, live your life, and can even go to a bar and use it.”

And, subsequently, you can find out if the IT guy with serious gay face or that temp with the almost-too-perfectly tapered trousers plays for the queer squad.

The curiosity factor appears to be the leading motivation for many gays to download apps like Grindr, whether it’s in their workplace, in a bar, near their home, or even in their childhood hometown. While many GPS dating apps have a bit of a reputation as purely a tool proceeding hookups, as more and more users take the plunge, it appears guys are using the technology to meet up for purposes far beyond a no-strings-attached frolic.

David from San Francisco, Calif., said he has been a Grindr user since late 2009, just about six months since the app debuted. He said the app has taken on the most utility for him during his travels to other cities and countries due to the ease with which one can meet guys who pique one’s fancy, or identify popular hotspots to hang with hotties face to face. While never a fan of online dating sites previously, he considers himself a new convert thanks to the app.

“It’s definitely a nice plus for travelers to get more of a sense of the local scene,” said David. “Some call it addictive but it is very effortless and easy to use on a day-to-day basis.”

Josh, another Grindr user who said he checks the app several times a day, said the app was helpful when he moved recently to Cleveland. One guy he began talking with eventually became one of his closest friends and remains so today. He also said the app has helped him locate folks to head to bars with, rather than encouraging him to stay at home and “chat eternally” with no intention of following up in person — as some feared GPS apps might encourage.

But there are some drawbacks to the apps, as several users interviewed for this story noted. Of course, there are the headless six-pack torso men, fake profiles, and trolls that are to be expected in any sort of online dating realm. But the streamlined design of an app like Grindr can blur users’ intentions.

Max, a twenty-something Grindr user in Chicago, indicated there are typically two types of guys on the app: “Those that want to fuck and those that want to meet other local gay guys and have polite conversation.” It can be difficult to tell who’s who, particularly when there is no specific “looking for” category for no-frills fun. Grindr, in fact, has some particularly stringent rules against the use of provocative (i.e. full frontal) photos that suggests that sort of motive. The vagueness has led him to use the app less often than he previously did.

“I think that if more conversations were like ’You wanna hook up?’ ’Yes.’ ’You got a big dick?’ ’Yes.’ ’Let’s do this,’ I would be more willing to take the time to Grindr but consistently you are [on there,] an hour passes, you know this guy’s life story but are no closer to hooking up than an hour before,”