Tinder Launches House Rules to Improve Safety Over App

Image: Tinder

Tinder announced the launch of its latest safety feature to address abuse over the app, dubbed “House Rules.”

Tinder users must agree to the list of house rules outlined in a 20-page safety guide before they can download the service. The guide highlights the app’s safety features, including photo verification, how to report and block abusive users, according to News.com Australia.

The guide also provides tips for dating in person, including advice to Tinder users to schedule a video call beforehand to “get a vibe for the other person” according to Global Dating Insights. It also provides tips like sharing details and location of the date with friends or family beforehand, and keeping track of drinks to avoid spiking.

The feature was launched in partnership with WESNET, a non-profit that provides support and resources to victims of domestic violence, notably “violence against women which originates in technology” as described in the press release.

Tinder Dating Safety Guide Screenshots

Image: Tinder

The move came just prior to company representatives taking part in a roundtable with Australian government officials and others about safety issues prevalent across dating apps. The gathering was initiated after a report was published that showed nearly three quarters of survey respondents had experienced abuse over dating app platforms.

While Tinder has introduced new safety features over the last few years, one third of 1,000 users polled were not even aware they existed.

“Safety is a priority for us at Tinder and across the Match Group platform. Our members trust us with the most sensitive and vulnerable parts of their lives,” said Buddy Loomis, Head of Trust and Safety Outreach & Engagement, Match Group in the announcement. “We have been working over the past few months to launch this initiative and we’ll continue to educate our members both on and off the app.”

The roundtable’s eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant wants more accountability from dating apps, and said to The Guardian: “If I don’t get total transparency, I have legal compulsion powers that I can use.”

She also emphasized the importance of dating apps encouraging “respectful online interactions,” because many abusers on the apps do not have criminal records that would be found in a background check, and features like ID verification mean that users’ data could be at risk. Tinder’s new guide seems to be an answer to that call.

Karen Bentley, CEO of WESNET said in the announcement: “This guide is about empowering people to use dating apps, like Tinder, safely. It’s a reminder for daters to think thoroughly, act accordingly and respond respectfully.”

For more on this dating app, check out our Tinder review.