Tinder plans to bring voluntary ID verification to all users

Tinder has plans to bring its voluntary ID verification to more users in the coming. It was first launched in Japan in 2019.

"ID Verification is complex and nuanced, which is why we are taking a test-and-learn approach to the rollout. We know one of the most valuable things Tinder can do to make members feel safe is to give them more confidence that their matches are authentic and more control over who they interact with," Tinder's Head of Trust and Safety Product Rory Kozoll shared in a press release.

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Tinder removes Google Play payments for its Android app

Tinder users on Android who want to subscribe to its premium services will no longer have their payments processed through the Play Store. Tinder users will now need to enter their credit card information directly into the app. And according to rumours, this is because Tinder’s owner Match Group isn’t happy with the high percentage Google is taking from its revenue. Google takes as much as 30 percent of the revenue if you use its payment system. Tinder is almost always in the top ten of the money-making apps on the Play Store that aren’t in the gaming category.

And while Tinder pulling out might not affect Google’s overall revenue, it could set a bad precedent and entice other high-earning apps to do the same. One company who’s pulled this move is Epic Games. The company behind smash-hit game Fortnite made headlines when it decided to side-step the Google Play Store entirely for the Android version of the game.

Tinder adds new Festival Mode feature for those looking to match up at music festivals

Looking to meet new people at music festivals? Tinder is launching a new Festival Mode feature that will be available for 12 festivals in both the US and the UK. This will let you add a badge to their profile to let them know what festivals they’ll be going to and you can select users from the Festival Mode card. It covers festivals like Governors Ball, Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, EDC Las Vegas, and Lovebox. This festival option will go live three weeks before the event, so those potential matches can talk and decide if they want to meet up. It’ll be available for users all over the world who plan to attend, so it doesn’t matter if you aren’t near the area where the festival is happening.

According to Tinder, they noticed that Tinder downloads increased during festivals. They cited Bonnaroo last year which had an app activity increase of up to 300 times the norm, so they want to bank on this. For certain festivals, you can expect to see Tinder there as well with a booth for photo ops and even chance to win VIP upgrades and merch.

Source: The Verge

You can now use GIFs as your Tinder profile picture

Think a static Tinder profile photo is too bland? Well, you can use GIFs, if you’re on iOS, that is. The dating app is testing out this new feature here in Canada, Sweden, the US, UK, and many other countries. Tinder is calling it Loops and it is as the name suggests Loops a two-second clip of you doing something you love or showing off your personality. You can record a clip or use an existing video. If you want to use an existing video, all you need to do is tap on the “Add Media” button. Once you have that, select the part you want to loop and then add that to your profile. Easy-peasy.