Swiped

Swiped

Year: 2017

Runtime: 4 mins

Language: English

Director: Joseph Kahn

Science Fiction

A millennial has to deal with the unexpected consequences of swiping himself on a dating app.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Swiped (2017)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Swiped (2017). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Present-day

Present-day, within a single academic year, the events unfold across fall and into Christmas break. The period centers on smartphones, social apps, and an emphasis on instant gratification. The setting reflects modern college life where technology reshapes dating and personal boundaries.

Location

College campus, dorm room, Hannah's sorority house, James's family home

Set on a contemporary college campus, the story moves between a shared dorm where Jungle is coded and tested, and a sorority house that becomes James's refuge. It also visits the family home during Christmas as the app's consequences spill into private life. The campus environment and dorm culture serve as a backdrop for social experimentation and peer pressure around hookup culture.

🏫 College campus 🛏️ Dormitory 🏠 Sorority house 🏡 Family home

Last Updated: October 14, 2025 at 03:57

Main Characters – Swiped (2017)

Meet the key characters of Swiped (2017), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

James

Introverted freshman and gifted coder who becomes the lead developer of Jungle. He is socially reserved but exceptionally skilled at programming, using his talents to secure a path to a better college future. He wrestles with the moral implications of the app as it harms others and threatens real relationships. In the end, he seeks to stop Jungle and advocates for real connections, even confessing his feelings to Hannah.

🧠 Genius ⚖️ Moral dilemma 💡 Ambition

Lance

Wealthy, confident student who sees James's coding talent as a tool to build Jungle and secure his own transfer to an Ivy League school. He manipulates peers and uses the hookup app to control social dynamics, prioritizing instant gratification over consequences. He pressures James to keep Jungle running and to present it as Lance's own project. His actions catalyze the ethical crisis at the heart of the story.

💼 Privilege 🎭 Manipulation 🗣️ Charisma

Hannah

A sorority member who stands as a counterbalance to the tech-driven hookup culture. She resists Jungle and never downloads it, while offering James a chance at real connection through genuine conversation. She becomes a protective presence in James's rough patch, and she confronts him over the app's effects. Her feelings for James lead to a kiss after his confession.

💖 Romance 🛡️ Boundaries 🎭 Integrity

Last Updated: October 14, 2025 at 03:57

Major Themes – Swiped (2017)

Explore the central themes of Swiped (2017), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💻 Technology and Relationships

The film uses Jungle to show how hookups can be commodified, turning human connection into data. It explores how a smartphone-based culture pressures people into quick encounters without emotional attachment. The narrative demonstrates the moral consequences of prioritizing convenience over consent, privacy, and trust. The story suggests that real connection requires more than a program.

⚖️ Ethics and Responsibility

James grapples with responsibility when his code enables harm to his family and friends. He faces the ethical tension between his talent and the potential damage it can cause, confronting Lance and eventually exposing the truth. The film questions who bears accountability when technology outpaces personal judgment. It ends with a move toward responsibility and personal honesty.

🫂 Community vs Isolation

Isolation and connection are pitted against each other as characters retreat from screens or seek shelter in community spaces. Hannah's sorority house becomes a sanctuary where genuine relationships can exist beyond apps. The story emphasizes real conversations, boundaries, and empathy as antidotes to the loneliness fostered by digital networks.

Last Updated: October 14, 2025 at 03:57

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Swiped Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Swiped, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Swiped Summary

Swiped Timeline

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Swiped Timeline

Swiped Spoiler-Free Summary

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Swiped Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Swiped

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