Our world today is gravitating more and more toward a technology-driven society.

With recent technological advances resulting in devices like the iPad Air 2, the iMac and the iPhone 6, children now toy with gadgets that past generations would have received as graduation gifts.

Thus, it should come as no surprise that even dating, a custom as old as time, is adapting to remain contemporary in cultures that operate daily on pocket-sized machines.

Tinder is a matchmaking mobile app on the rise geared for a younger generation.

Whereas most dating sites rely heavily on profiles, which tend to be fake or embellished, Tinder relies on just four factors: location, common interests, sexual interest and a mutual liking of each other’s profiles.

In theory, this is “all the information one needs to make an informed first impression about a potential long-term mate,” said Liraz Margalit, in her article “Tinder And Evolutionary Psychology.”

In my experience, when meeting a long-term partner there needs to be a natural and emotional connection, not a paper-perfect description of a person on the screen from a device in the palm of your hand.

I’m talking about the sort of connection that requires eye contact.

The developers who launched Tinder in 2012 first tested the app for success on college campuses.

Turns out, the elements of this IOS dating app make it a gateway to casual hookups.

Users immediately receive the geographic location, age, gender and similar interests of Tinder users within a specified radius.

Swipe right on an attractive profile picture and you can instant message a person you’ve never met.

It is no secret that Tinder’s prosperity is being fueled by young people’s insatiable sex drives.

Tinder makes initiating sex as simple as sending a text.

Call me old-fashioned, but I appreciate the chase. Nothing surpasses the satisfaction of wooing the girl next door.

Whatever happened to being a “mack” and a smooth talker?

Flirting is an art form.

I respect a man or woman who speaks confidently and perhaps even seductively upon a first encounter. It’s an attractive quality.

This sort of charisma can be learned, but it requires practice. Staring intently at a screen and planning each thought out instant message will not enhance this public speaking skill.

So yes, the use of Tinder is socially and morally controversial.

College students love Tinder because of its sexual potential and unintimidating method of matchmaking.

Does this make Tinder users shallow?

Perhaps it just makes them opportunists.

Miles Inserra can be reached at [email protected] or m_inserra on Twitter.