Are Group Swipes on Tinder Social A Good Thing?

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Photo by @TwiceBlessed_

As a Millennial, I am all too familiar with Tinder. I am unashamed to admit that I met my current boyfriend on the app. Now, Tinder is testing a new product known as Tinder Social, which is “not group dating, it’s a fun new way to meet new people out with your friends.” Right now, the app is being tested by a group of people in Australia but they hope to launch it globally soon.

The way the feature works is very similar to regular Tinder: you create a profile, you swipe left or right, and if it’s a match you start a conversation and go out. The difference is that instead of being solo, you create a groups with your friends and match with other groups of friends. The app even lets you share where you and your friends are hanging out so that your matches can come and meet you. “Tinder has always been about making you more social in the real world, not the digital world,” Tinder’s blog explains.

While this new feature sounds like a fun and safe way to meet new people, there has been a bit of an uproar about how the app works. Business Insider explains that “people have reacted with alarm after realizing [Tinder Social] also shows you a list of all of your Facebook friends that use the dating app, and lets you view friends’ Tinder profiles.” What. The. Eff? I am rather unashamed of how I met my boyfriend, but I don’t need a Facebook friend that I haven’t spoken to in 15 years knowing that’s how I try and find a guy. There are a lot of people I am friends with on Facebook just because we know the same people or went to middle school together. It doesn’t end there either! Apparently, “Facebook friends (of either gender) on Tinder can also add you to groups without your permission, and from there view your full Tinder profile.” Hard pass.

Tinder Social just released an update to their blog post on April 26th saying, “Any user who would prefer not to be added to groups can opt out of Tinder Social through his/her settings to no longer appear on their friends’ lists.” Okay, crisis averted. There will be many ups and downs to Tinder Social, but ultimately, the success of the app will require Tinder to listen to its users and think about what makes them swipe right or left.

 

Would you consider using Tinder Social with your friends?

Categories: Career & Finance, Technology

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Hattie Weber
Hattie Weber is a senior editor at Badass + Living. A 2015 college graduate, Hattie is a Texan residing in New York City. Her life experiences – from being a traveler to a debutante to an office manager – have given her a great understanding of her fellow millennials. Hattie has been published in Thought Catalog's "More Than 20 Minutes Of Reading: Everything You Need To Read About The Brock Turner Case & Controversy." Her dedication to those she cares about and her unapologetic honesty are what make her a badass.

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