Tinder Warns Users About Coronavirus Spread
Contributed by: kellyseal on Friday, April 03 2020 @ 07:08 am
Last modified on Wednesday, April 08 2020 @ 07:51 am
Dating app Tinder raised the alarm for users of its popular dating app as reports of coronavirus spread across the U.S., with confirmed cases in most states.
Tinder has created ads that appear as users swipe through its app, providing links to the World Health Organization’s website with recommendations for preventing the spread of the virus, according to The Hill[*1] .
The ad states: "Your wellbeing is our #1 priority…Tinder is a great place to meet new people. While we want you to continue to have fun, protecting yourself from the coronavirus is more important.”
The app also notes health tips recommended by the CDC to prevent spread of the virus, including washing your hands and refraining from touching your mouth, eyes and nose.
Of course, the big question on daters’ minds is…should they still go on dates when there is such concern over coronavirus? It’s not exactly romantic when you’re advised to stand several feet away from potential dates. Many people were taking to Twitter to ask questions, make jokes, and vent their frustration about feeling powerless and unable to connect.
One Twitter user said: “I was talking to a man on tinder and I told him I was traveling and he said “with this corona virus!?” Then unmatched me[.] Dating is maybe the most fun thing I’ve ever done.”
Buzzfeed[*2] reported that daters were avoiding meeting each other in public for fear of contracting the virus in a crowded, public place. One woman they interviewed said she had worried about a third date with a man she was looking forward to seeing for fear of contracting the virus, but ended up going on it after all. When they held hands, she wasn’t sure if it was a good idea considering the warnings from the CDC about touching. Many other daters don’t want to take chances, either.
Daters in Seattle, where the virus has impacted the community especially hard, are opting to reschedule or keep plans in limbo.
“Turning down invitations for drinks and dinner and just staying holed up in my apartment and sexting is about the extent of my love life now,” a 41 year-old Seattle resident named Mel told Buzzfeed. She did admit that her messaging and flirting with other users over Tinder has increased since the warnings.
Match Group’s other apps like Hinge and OkCupid don’t have plans at this time to share coronavirus information over the apps and have not asked users to exercise caution when meeting in person. In fact, Hinge just launched a promotion to pay users $100 to go on a date and turn the app off for twenty-four hours. Bumble had no comment according to reports.