Now, on Tinder, you may have come across the phrase “In a spectrum” when viewing someone’s profile and wondered what it means. You are likely to have seen this where gender would normally be displayed or right below their username.
So, what does In A Spectrum mean on Tinder? Read on to find out all you need to know.
What Does In A Spectrum Mean On Tinder
In the context of Tinder and online dating, the phrase “In a spectrum” typically refers to someone identifying themselves as not strictly adhering to a single sexual orientation or gender identity.
You may already know that when you are setting up your Tinder account on the Tinder app, you must choose your gender from the options below:
- Woman
- Man
- More >
When you click on More, you can then provide additional details about your gender, and you can choose to display these details on your profile by clicking on Show My Gender On My Profile at the bottom of the gender selection page.
If you already set your Gender and wish to change it, you could do this by:
- Navigating to your Tinder profile
- Clicking Edit
- And then selecting one of Man, Woman, or Beyond Binary.
Again, if you choose Beyond Binary, you will be asked to provide additional information on your gender.
So, one of the options you can choose when you select More > or Beyond Binary, is In A Spectrum.
So, when you see In A Spectrum on someone’s Tinder profile, here is exactly what it means:
- The person identifies themselves as not strictly adhering to a single or traditional sexual orientation or gender identity.
- They may use this phrase to convey that their sexual orientation or gender identity is fluid or falls somewhere on a spectrum rather than fitting into traditional binary categories.
- For example, someone who identifies as “in a spectrum” may not exclusively identify as heterosexual or homosexual but may experience attraction to individuals of various genders.
- Similarly, in terms of gender identity, they may not strictly identify as male or female but may feel that their gender identity exists somewhere in between or outside of those traditional categories.
- This means that they could be Gender Fluid, GNC, Intersex, bisexual, pansexual, queer, non-binary, or any other identity and sexual orientation that is different from the traditional binary concepts of sexuality or gender.
It’s important to note that the specific meaning of “In a spectrum” can vary from person to person, as it’s a term that allows individuals to describe their own unique experiences and identities.
- NOTE: The option to select these nonbinary gender and sexual orientation options are:
- Only available in certain regions or markets
- Only available on iOS and Android apps in those regions or markets, and not on Tinder.com
- So, if you don’t find this option, then it is not yet available to you. Also, if you are using a PC, then this option is definitely not available.
When encountering this phrase on Tinder or any dating app, it’s a good idea to engage in respectful and open communication with the person using it to better understand their specific preferences and experiences.
Communication and respect for individual identities and orientations are key when navigating the diverse world of online dating. Tinder, even more so.
- Here is what Tinder have to say on the subject of gender and sexual orientation:
“We strive to make Tinder a safe and inclusive space for everyone. We’re always exploring new ways to ensure that your experience on our platform is positive and empowering. And we’ll continue prioritizing initiatives that encourage your most authentic self-expression.
“Regardless of where you fall on the gender and sexuality spectrum, you’re welcome here. That’s why we’ve been expanding our gender identities and sexual orientation selections by adding clear definitions, so our users can describe themselves accurately and confidently.
Since this experience is still evolving, it’s only available to some users for now and we’re doing our very best to make it accessible to everyone.”
Therefore, to foster a more inclusive community where everyone’s identities are embraced, represented, and respected, enabling its users to express their authentic self most accurately, Tinder deepens their understanding of gender and sexuality spectrums. This is why they have included these diverse options, including In A Spectrum.
Also, this option looks to go beyond the generic Nonbinary that you may find on other dating apps like Bumble. According to Tinder, gender is informed by a person’s unique individual experience. And those outside of the binary categories of “Man” or “Woman” might not always feel comfortable identifying as “Nonbinary”.
This is why they have made provisions for up to 50 gender identities and 9 sexual orientations, to make provisions for all known genders including Gender Fluid, GNC, Intersex, and others beyond the binary.
Matching With Someone In A Spectrum
In case you are wondering how you could have matched with someone In A Spectrum, it’s simple:
- After creating your Tinder profile, you get to start viewing profiles that you can either swipe left or right on.
- At the top right of that screen, you will see this icon
- Click on it to make changes to your preferences including Maximum Distance, Age Range, and Genders which is represented by Show Me
- At Show Me, you can choose either of Women, Men, or Everyone
- Users who do not identity as Male or Female fall in the Everyone category. When you choose Everyone, you get shown other genders, including people In A Spectrum.
Also, note that you, just like all Tinder users, have the option to choose whether your gender is displayed on your profile. So, you may come across users who are In A Spectrum, even if it is not explicitly stated on their profile.
The bottom line is this:
- In a Spectrum on Tinder means that the person does not identify as any of the traditional genders or sexual orientations
- You need to treat everyone with respect irrespective of their gender identity or sexual orientation on Tinder
- Tinder is very strict about respect for everyone and will ban you from the platform if you go contrary