Online dating and dating apps carry a stigma in modern day society, despite being direct products of technological developments being applied to enhance everyday life. Many see it as a last-ditch effort to find someone after failing to meet the one "irl". Or as an outlet for casual hookups, which never end in serious relationships.

There aren't many success stories of long-lasting relationships cultivated on Tinder, but I know its possible from personal experience.

I joined Tinder as a kind of joke. I really just wanted to talk to guys (and girls) online and get some positive attention after being absolutely single for over a year. Social media allows for connections people might not make otherwise, and I wanted to take full advantage of that.

I never would have met my boyfriend, a college student from South Jersey, while I was finishing up high school if I never joined that dating app.

When we matched, he hit me with a corny pickup line worthy of eye rolls: "I just got a new set of silverware and seem to be missing a little spoon. Think you can help?"

I almost didn't answer, and even when I did, I didn't think anything was going to come of it.

We immediately hit it off. I'm talking paragraphs of text messages about things that mattered, not just casual flirting and sexual innuendos. We went on our first date and I knew I really liked this guy.

I had "things" with guys from Tinder in the past, and they never really went anywhere. I thought that was what Anthony was going to be to me, but I was way wrong.

The more we got to know each other, the more we realized how well our personalities meshed. We have the same sense of humor and really connected from the start. Even after he asked me to be his girlfriend, I had no idea it would grow into what it is now.

Almost a year and a half later, I am so glad I decided to make that Tinder account.

If you are looking for a relationship, you shouldn't completely dismiss dating apps for being a cesspool of f**k boys/girls only looking for sex. Don't get me wrong, you will encounter many of those. But among the matches, you might find a sweetheart and you might fall in love with them.

Take the chance. Love can be found anywhere.