Users Adding Vaccination Status to Online Profiles

Dating app users are advertising when they have received the COVID-19 vaccine in the hope of capturing more matches.

As more people are able to get vaccinated, it has become a selling point for singles who are eager to date in person again. Healthcare workers, grocery store clerks, politicians and teachers are all in the front of the line to get the vaccine, along with other at-risk populations, and many of them are using dating apps to share their vaccine status. 

According to Vice, people are sharing details in their profiles for maximum visibility, like when they got their last vaccine or if they are still waiting for the second shot.

Vaccines have now been approved by many governments around the world, and supply is ramping up as demand for these much-needed preventatives increases. This winter has been especially difficult, with cases and deaths rising, especially in the U.S.

Bumble told Vice that there’s been “a steady increase in the number of people who have included the word 'vaccine' or 'vaccinated'" on their profiles, beginning in December after the first vaccines were administered in the US.

Tinder saw a 238 percent increase in vaccine mentions in user bios starting in November, even before the vaccines were available. These mentions increased in December.

OkCupid, which has its own research arm, began to ask its users COVID-related questions about virtual dating, and have now added vaccine-specific questions to the list. One question asks: “Will you get the COVID-19 vaccine?” Users can respond with a basic yes or no, “I’m not sure,” and “I already have.” According to their findings, 72% said they would take the vaccine and 3% said they’ve already taken it. Sixteen percent are still considering the option and nine percent said they would not take it.

The Vice reporter noted that even those dating apps who aren’t measuring vaccination mentions – such as Grindr and Scruff – still have many users who are adding “vaccination,” “Vax” and “Vax’d” to their profiles in the hopes of getting more responses. Some are even getting creative with user names, incorporating “Vax” into their handles.

Still, dating app users should proceed with caution when meeting any date in person, including those who claim to have been vaccinated. Vice points out that people could be misinforming potential dates, saying that they are already vaccinated when they have only received one shot, for example. Scrutinize your matches and don’t assume that someone is safe to interact with until you get to know them. It’s best to meet matches virtually before committing to meet in person, at least while the pandemic is raging.