Profiles

Dating apps like Grindr, Hinge and OkCupid have been weighing whether or not to keep an ethnicity filter on their apps in the wake of protests against police violence in the U.S. and around the world. 

According to Forbes, Grindr announced that it would be dropping the filter as an option from its app in its next update. The company posted a statement on Twitter, adding: “We will not be silent. Black Lives Mater.” But this decision created a backlash among many who saw this move as too little, too late. @guillotineshout responded: “In solidarity we are removing our racism button” is the most tech company thing I could imagine.”

Grindr had received criticism before for the ethnicity filter, but other dating apps like OkCupid and Hinge who also have them, have chosen to keep theirs.

Dating app Tinder came under fire for banning users of its platform when they posted statements and photos supporting the Black Lives Matter movement. Shortly after the backlash, the company reversed their decision.

Millions of people around the world have been protesting police violence in the wake of the murder of George Floyd. Black Lives Matter and other racial justice organizations have crafted petitions and promoted donation requests as the movement has progressed. Some Tinder users were spreading the word through their Tinder profiles in order to further promote these petitions and causes, and dozens reported being banned from the platform.

According to BBC, one user took to Twitter to announce: “Yesterday, I changed my Tinder bio to 'All Black Lives Matter. If you don’t think so, swipe left.” That user was banned shortly thereafter.

Tinder Introduces Global Mode

Image: Tinder

Tinder announced that it will soon be rolling out its new Global Mode feature which allows Tinder users to match with anyone regardless of where they live, with no geographical limitations.

Global Mode will allow users to opt in for their profiles to be visible to users around the world, and will allow them to match with people from other countries, according to The Verge. It differs from Passport, which allowed users to pick a city (typically a travel destination) so that they could match with people in that specific location. Global Mode expands this capability without limits, and it’s free.

Dating app Bumble has released new features to help people connect better over the app as most of us around the world stay home to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

One of the new features is the in-app audio/voice note ability, so you can leave a voice message for a match without having to exchange phone numbers, according to The Verge. This is a way to personalize messages with your matches, as texting can feel kind of generic after a while. It’s also another way to filter matches ahead of agreeing to a video chat.

Image: Forbes

Having trouble finding a worthwhile match on Tinder? The dating app made “swipe left” and “swipe right” two of the most recognizable phrases in popular culture — but what it hasn’t necessarily done is made it easier to find a date using those infamous gestures.

In an effort to help singles get more out of their Tinder experience, the company has started testing a premium service it’s calling Tinder Concierge. An advertisement recently released on the platform announced the new feature with an image of a limousine parked outside of an ornate building. The short description of Concierge explains that users can pay $20 to schedule a session with a “team of experts” who will help them “craft the perfect profile.” Users who are interested are invited to sign up for the waitlist to get more information.

The ad has been greeted with mixed responses on Reddit. A few users expressed curiosity about the idea. Others called Concierge “transparently a scam” and “something that’s going to flop miserably.” A skeptical user shared the theory that Tinder would simply note when a user has a Concierge session and updates their profile, then show them more matches — which increases the likelihood that they’ll get more right swipes — so the user will think the service is working. Several users noted that their version of the ad set a Concierge session at $50, not $20.

It’s the 2020 election season, and political campaigns are competing for young voters – and turning to dating apps Tinder and Bumble for help.

Young campaign volunteers are using dating apps to chat with their matches and advertise for their candidates over dating apps, according to International Business Times. Some are even springing for premium versions of Tinder so they can change location and engage voters in other states. Still other app users are advocating for more political engagement, including announcing in their profiles that they only date registered voters.