Tinder Offers Free Passport Feature to Its Users
Contributed by: kellyseal on Wednesday, April 15 2020 @ 07:02 am
Last modified on Wednesday, April 15 2020 @ 08:37 am
In the midst of an unprecedented global pandemic that is forcing people to isolate in their homes, Tinder is waiving fees for its premium Passport feature.
Passport provides a way for people to connect with those outside of their current locations. Previously, it was available through Tinder’s Gold and Premium paid services. With this move, Tinder users can connect for free with friends from their hometowns, or with relatives across country or those living in other parts of the world.
This offer will be available through April 30th and extend to users all over the world. Tinder hopes that it will encourage its members to virtually connect beyond dating, according to Tech Crunch[*1] .
“Our hope is that you use the Passport feature to virtually transport yourself out of self-quarantine to anywhere in the world,” the company’s press released stated. “If nothing else, you can learn how to say ‘hey’ in another language.”
Tinder users will be able to search for a location or choose a place on a map and begin swiping profiles in that location. With Passport, users can only visit one location at a time.
Dating apps are trying to help people connect as they shelter at home, offering an array of virtual features and safety tips since they can’t meet in person. Bumble launched its livestream service last fall and has seen a 21 percent increase in activity since the coronavirus broke out.
Tinder has also seen a spike in user activity on its app, specifically in cities that have been more severely affected by COVID-19 such as San Francisco, New York and Seattle.
Tinder is owned by Match Group, which has made an effort with all of its apps to provide helpful information and make virtual connections easier. Earlier this month, Tinder launched new ads with tips on hand washing, social distancing and links to the CDC’s website. Hinge offered health and safety advice on its app as well, urging users to practice caution and adhere to social distancing guidelines. Plenty of Fish just launched a new livestream video feature so that users can connect while under quarantine.
Tinder CEO Shar Dubey said Tinder users will be able to access for free “the technology to share, learn and listen to those that are experiencing this same situation in different geographies during an unprecedented period of isolation.”
The company’s statement went on to say: “this epidemic is also changing the tenor of connection in the hardest-hit places. More people are using Tinder bios to show their concern for others ('how is everyone') instead of their life motto.”
For more on this service you can read our Tinder app review.