Match Group Appoints Head of Safety and Social Advocacy
Contributed by: kellyseal on Monday, October 19 2020 @ 08:57 am
Last modified on Monday, October 19 2020 @ 09:10 am
Match Group, parent company to popular dating apps like Tinder, OkCupid and Hinge, has appointed Tracey Breeden to be its new Head of Safety and Social Advocacy.
Breeden is in a newly created position and will be overseeing trust and safety policies for Match Group’s dating apps, and will also be working with the company’s product teams to develop new safety features. According to Inside Hook[*1] , Breeden is the former Head of Women’s Safety and Gender-Based Violence Operations at Uber, another tech company that has encountered safety issues for both its customers and drivers. She is also a former investigator and police officer.
Breeden will be working closely with the company’s new Match Group Advisory Council, which launched earlier this year and includes both experts and activists working in the prevention of sexual assault, sex trafficking, abuse, harassment, and other related issues that have plagued the dating app industry.
“I’ve spent my entire career fighting to create safe spaces for all people so I’m excited to bring my passion for promoting safety and advocacy to Match Group and its brands,” said Breeden in statement about her new role. “Corporations play an important role in sparking positive, social change but also have a responsibility to help ensure safe experiences for their users. I look forward to developing pathways to more equitable and inclusive solutions when it comes to safety across Match Group’s many communities.”
Match Group has been ramping up its safety features this year. It partnered with security app Noonlight in January, integrating the service with Tinder to offer users the ability to summon emergency services through the app if they need assistance while on a date – including a panic button that alerts emergency responders to the user’s location. Other safety features include location-sharing with friends and family, an AI tool that identifies inappropriate messages and allows users to report the sender, and a badge that users can add to their profiles indicating that they have signed up with the safety service. Match dating app also added a new face verification feature last month.
Match Group CEO Shar Dubey said in the press release: “The safety of our users is, and has always been existential to our category. We are responsible for millions of meaningful relationships around the world, and it’s imperative that our users have positive experiences and meet quality people. But, our platforms also reflect society, and we must all be committed to doing everything we can to eliminate bad behavior, wherever we can.”