Features

An Illinois Court will hear a case against Match Group’s Tinder app over how it collects and stores the biometric data of its users.

According to Global Dating Insights, the way Tinder stores sensitive data such as physical characteristics and body measurements violate the state’s Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA). Tinder (and parent company Match Group) failed to gather signed consent from Illinois users before retaining facial scans. This data is collected as part of Tinder’s photo verification feature, a new safety measure launched by the company to help reduce fake profiles and potential scammers on the app.

Illinois has specific regulations regarding not only the storage of the biometric data, but also disclosing information to the user about how that data will be handled and managed. Specifically, the plaintiffs allege that Tinder’s process poses a security risk because of what might happen if the data were to be obtained by hackers. As Global Dating Insights points out, biometric data is extremely sensitive data as it is a permanent identifier of the user, as opposed to passwords which can be changed.

Image: Hinge

Dating app Hinge is venturing outside of traditional monogamy offerings on its app to launch its newest feature “Relationship Type,” where users can specify what kind of relationship they are looking for.

According to Tech Crunch, Relationship Type categories include “monogamous,” “non-monogamous” and “figuring out my relationship type.” This update allows for easier filtering through matches, though it is optional to add it to your profile. It will be posted in the “virtues” section of the profile.

This feature expands on the “Dating Intentions” feature that Hinge launched over the summer, where users could specify whether they were looking for long-term or short-term partners, or if they didn’t know. Now, they can do the same for non-monogamous preferences. As Tech Crunch pointed out, there is also room to better explain your relationship goals through the app’s “Backstory” open text option.

Joel Simkhai, founder popular gay dating app Grindr, has launched a new queer dating app called Motto.

In an interview with NBC News, Simkhai said he launched the new app to “course-correct” the current culture of gay dating apps. He noted that many (including Grindr) have contributed to a rise in racial discrimination among gay daters, as well as contributing to feelings of body dissatisfaction and low self-esteem in regard to body image.

Motto provides features to counteract and prevent what Skimkhai called “toxicity” on gay dating apps, including requiring users to post photos with faces instead of the popular “headless torsos” that are prominent on apps like Grindr. He’s also limiting users to perusing 10 profiles per day, so they can take their time instead of endlessly swiping.

BLK, the dating app for black singles, has announced a new feature to help alumni and students who attended HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) connect with each other.

Homecoming Mode lets users add a sticker of their HBCU, allowing them to discover others who attended their college and show their school pride, according to Afro.com. BLK created the feature as a way of creating more ways for singles to strike up conversations, as communities are a big focus of the app. The goal is also to encourage each other to make plans as homecoming season is around the corner.

The stickers are available now, and so far, the company says that the top three stickers that users are adding include Florida A&M University, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, and Howard University. Currently, BLK offers 15 stickers for HBCUs but plans to expand to include more in the future.

Image: Grindr

Dating app Grindr announced the launch of its new video series Play Safe, intended to educate dating app users about its safety policies and practices. The videos will be available in the app as well as across the company’s social channels.

According to the company’s press release, the safety features the dating app will be highlighting include the ability to mute, block and report bad actors on the app. Grindr says its team of “human moderators who have been trained on LGBTQ-specific cultural sensitivities and gender-inclusive content moderation” will be reviewing all reports around the clock.

“We work day-in and day-out to make Grindr a place where our users can feel safe and supported, because we know that the world at large is not always accepting of the LGBTQ community,” said Alice Hunsberger, VP of Customer Experience at Grindr.

Dating app Hinge announced that users can now add their astrological signs - as well as what kind of pet they have - to their dating app profiles.

Hinge is adding popular features that offer more insight into potential matches, and many singles want to know if their stars align. Astrological signs figure prominently into dating today, with dating apps noticing a surge of interest starting in 2020.

According to The Verge, the new astrology feature lets users add their main “sun” sign to their profiles, along with age and other important information. And while some zodiac-focused singles may only be interested in compatibility with certain signs, for the majority of singles, it provides a way to strike up conversation.