United States

Governor Doug Ducey of Arizona just signed into law a bill that requires online dating companies to inform their users when they have communicated with potential scammers, according to a report from Fox 10 News.

The bill HB2396 was sponsored by Republican lawmaker Regina Cobb of Kingman, Arizona, and requires dating services to inform its members if someone they had been in contact with was banned for a suspected scam, in an effort to reduce abusive and criminal activity on dating apps. These companies were previously prohibited from doing so.

The law requires the notice to be sent my mail or email, and according to Fox News 10 in Phoenix, it also provides immunity for dating app companies to prevent them from being sued.

Image: Tinder

Tinder has formed a new partnership with ride sharing app Lyft to offer its users the ability to gift rides from within the app.

The popular dating app announced in a press release that it will be rolling out the new feature where users can gift their dates a Lyft ride directly without having to leave the app. (Lyft already allows its users to book rides for others, so it extends this ability to Tinder.) The partnership comes on the heels of a new surge of interest from its users to meet each other in person again after a year of lockdowns from coronavirus. Tinder wanted to make it easier for users to stay on the app while planning and meeting their dates.

Match Group’s star dating app noted that additional features of its partnership with Lyft will be rolled out in the future, including exclusive perks for members, though it didn't specify what these features or perks would be. Tinder also noted that its users can take advantage of Lyft’s safety features now, including “the ability to share their location with family and friends and silently request assistance through Emergency Help, supported by ADT.” 

Dating app Coffee Meets Bagel has put the Covid vaccine front and center on its app, adding vaccination status to user profiles.

According to Fox News, CMB users will be able to select from one of five options to update their status: fully vaccinated, waiting on an additional dose, planning to get vaccinated, not getting vaccinated, or prefer not to say. When they choose, it will automatically be added their profile. If at any time a user wants to change their vaccination status, they can edit their response.

The coronavirus has upended dating over the past year, with many singles turning to dating apps and virtual chats to meet people and stay connected. The rollout of the vaccine has gotten singles excited to meet in person again, and vaccination status has been a popular topic of conversation. In fact, CMB noted that user bios containing the word “vaccine” or “vaccination” have increased 220 percent since October.

Dating app Bumble just launched Night In, a new game feature that matches can play on a virtual date. In addition, the female-friendly dating app has revamped Boost, its mid-range paid service that now allows users unlimited swipes, “backtracking” and match extensions. 

Night In is an in-app game that’s meant to operate as an ice breaker. The feature provides a series of trivia questions that you and your Bumble date can answer together on a virtual date, according to The Verge. Bumble users can access Night In using the new icon in a chat message, where they can schedule the date ahead of time (as long as it’s between 6pm and midnight). Both participants will receive notification reminders ahead of the date.

Tinder and Everywell are giving away Covid Tests

To prepare for a surge of daters looking to meet in person, Tinder is giving away free at-home Covid test kits. The kits will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, and will be offered on March 20th at 7pm EST – the first day of spring.

In partnership with Everlywell, the maker of federally approved Covid-19 test kits, Tinder will give 1,000 kits to people (500 couples) who have made plans to meet up, according to CNN. The kits come with a nose swab, which you use and return back to the lab to wait for results to post online, usually 1-2 days later. 

The popular dating app company said that 40 percent of its customers under age 30 haven’t met in person because of fear of the coronavirus, so it’s hoping this will help ease some anxiety.

Garbo is a non-profit provider of Background Checks

Tinder announced that it will offer background checks on potential dates, a new measure that parent company Match Group has taken to improve safety for users of the app. Currently no dating app conducts criminal background checks on users, so this is a huge step forward for safety advocates.

Match Group has partnered with Garbo, a non-profit that provides background checks, and plans to debut an in-app background check feature on Tinder later this year according to The Washington Post. There are no details yet on the cost of the service.

Tracey Breeden, Match’s new head of safety and social advocacy, said in an interview: “This gives [Tinder users] an opportunity and that comfort level. Maybe they want more information before they have a video chat, maybe they want more information before they meet in person.”