5 safety features you need to know for a zen online dating experience

Online dating has never been so popular with people looking to make connections and see where things go in this new normal. Every day, people around the 🌏 trust dating apps such as Tinder to introduce them to new people. With this comes an essential responsibility, and Tinder is constantly evolving to help make every experience feel safe, respectful, and positive. Although you can't control the actions of others, there are steps you can take to stay safe during your Tinder experience.

From matching with verified profiles to video dating, here are 5 features you need to know to have a Zen experience on Tinder.

1.      UnMatch and report anytime! 🙅‍♀️

Tinder members have the ability to unmatch and report a person at any time and for any reason, whether it was a relationship that didn’t suit them or something more serious. Once unmatched, this person will no longer appear in their list of messages, but members can at any time report a person they unmatched. Members can report someone directly from a profile, reach out through the Safety Center or contact the Tinder team online whenever the need arises. Shreyash, a 23 year old Tinder member from New Delhi agrees. He adds, “As a queer person navigating the online dating landscape in India, options such as unmatching and reporting other matches are some of the finest safety features of all time and works wonders for my 'gut instinct!”

2.      Video Chat Before Meeting

“I actually prefer chatting through texts and video calls both for a long period on the app itself. I move off the app only when I am absolutely assured of the person I am speaking to.”, says Snehankitha Maddineni, a 23-year old Tinder member from Hyderabad. Tinder’s face-to-face video calling feature was launched during the pandemic and was built with control and comfort as its first priority. The in-app feature allows members to meet digitally, verify their match is authentic and better assess whether the chemistry is there before an IRL date - all without giving out personal contact details or moving the conversation off the platform

3.      Does this bother you

Got no time for bad vibes? Then this feature is your soulmate. During a conversation, if a member receives a message which Tinder's AI deems inappropriate or potentially abusive, the recipient will be asked in a pop-up message: “Does This Bother You?” If the answer is yes, you can report the member immediately

4.      Verified Profiles:

“Verified profiles are super important! That’s literally the first thing I see as a filter while matching with people on the app.” adds Snehankitha.  Members can leverage Tinder’s Photo Verification feature, which helps confirm that they are the person in their profile by comparing profile photos with a series of posed photos taken in-app. Also, Who doesn't like that classy blue badge next to their name?

5.      Safety Center

Tinder’s Safety Center is an interactive part of the app that includes local resources, articles, tips, quizzes and information about safety, reporting and privacy features. It’s available at any time - from settings and from the safety shieldthat appears when members are chatting. The Safety Center was developed in collaboration with the Match Group Advisory Council and additional NGO partners to not only help protect, but also to educate members so they can make more informed choices on the app and IRL.