It "has long been established" that the Olympic Village is "an arena for rather large amounts of extra-curricular activity," according to Matthew Syed of the LONDON TIMES. This is perhaps the first Olympics where "hooking up has been so widely conducted on social media," especially on Tinder, a matchmaking app that helps users browse all the single people in their location by using photos and online profiles. The free app, which has experienced a 400% day-over-day increase of new users in Sochi, "is simple to use." The app flashes up random pictures of potential matches and if both parties swipe right for "yes," they can start instant messaging one another. U.S. snowboarder Jamie Anderson, who won Gold, said that "it had reached epidemic proportions among the competitors." Anderson: "Tinder in the Olympic Village is the next level. It's all athletes. It's hilarious. There are some cuties on there." The media, social and otherwise, "has also been a forum for some sexually charged posing and posting." Pictures of Russian curler Anna Sidorova with a broom, black lingerie and high heels "have been retweeted thousands of times and she has become the face of the Games." Russian speed skater Tatiana Borodulina "posted photos in a wet, white dress." Dozens of other athletes "followed suit" (LONDON TIMES, 2/19).
