Match Offers Unique Communication Features to Help with Dating in 2020

Dating service Match has quietly added some impressive new features to help singles stay in better communication, especially as the pandemic forces people to stay at home.

The app now allows users to message with their best recommendations each day without having to pay or subscribe to a paid service, which is an interesting move since previously Match members always had to subscribe to be able to send messages to other members no matter how well they matched. This move brings Match closer to it's sister brands like Tinder and POF (all are owned by Match Group) which uses the freemium model. These popular dating services allow their users to message for free but, users have to pay to upgrade their account to enjoy premium features like finding out who has liked their profile.

In addition, the app has rolled out some other key features, including:

Video Chat.

This has become a popular feature for dating apps in 2020. Many companies scrambled to add video chat features after noticing user activity increasing during the first couple of months of the pandemic. In order to keep people engaged on the app instead of going to third party apps like Facetime, Match now provides an in-app video chat feature called Vibe Check that lets you see and talk to each other live before taking the step of meeting in person, or even exchanging numbers.

Conversation Starters.

This new feature will provide conversation prompts for those who feel stressed about messaging and video chatting with someone they don’t know. They range in scope from trending topics to general ice breakers to get you started.

Access to Dating Experts.

Match has a team of experts they’ve put in place to respond to your questions and offer advice on dating, whether it’s building confidence before a first date or sprucing up your profile to attract more matches. This is a feature not offered by most popular dating apps with the exception of eHarmony, so a good option for dating app users looking for something extra.

Virtual & In-Person Events.

COVID might have put a halt to Match’s signature local events for its members, but the dating app is offering virtual gatherings, too. You can meet and flirt with singles in a “stress-free setting,” as the company notes. 

Date Check-In.

Following recent reports on the lack of adequate security measures on dating apps, Match has added some new safety features, including a location sharing option that keeps friends and family updated on where you are. You have the option to choose three friends or family members and share your date’s name, the location and the time you’re meeting. During the date, Match will send an automated message asking if the app should inform them of a problem. By pressing yes, an alert will be sent to those contacts.

Some of the Match App New Features in 2020

Image: Google Play

Right now, Match executives are focused on the changing behavior of dating app users when it comes to implementing more new features, thanks to the significant shift in the wake of COVID. Match recently conducted its annual Singles in America study, and noted these changes – including more intentional dating habits. "Recent cataclysmic events have led singles to want more from dating: a desire for a relationship over casual dating; more meaningful conversations, and more honesty and transparency during a date," Dr. Helen Fisher, biological anthropologist and Chief Scientific Advisor to Match, said in the press release. 

The company also expects that virtual dating will continue to be popular well past the pandemic, and has already become a part of dating culture.