Tinder Introduces 'Matchmaker' Feature

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Tinder, a popular dating app, has introduced a new feature, dubbed ‘Matchmaker’, that allows the friends and family of users to recommend possible matches. Users can grant others access to their accounts for 24 hours, enabling them to suggest potential ‘likes’. The feature aims to make dating a “team sport”, according to Tinder.

A New Approach to Dating

The Matchmaker feature facilitates the sharing of profiles with a group of selected individuals, chosen by the user. These individuals can then browse through the profiles and offer their opinions. However, they cannot like or reject potential matches, but can only make recommendations.

This feature will initially be available in 15 countries, including the UK, the US, and Australia, with plans to roll it out globally in a few months.

Privacy Concerns Raised

Despite the innovative approach, some experts have raised concerns about privacy. Dating expert and matchmaker Sarah Louise Ryan expressed reservations about the sharing of one individual’s profile with others. Under the new feature, up to 15 people can view a user’s profile without needing to log into Tinder.

Ryan stated that many of her clients value confidentiality highly. The idea that their profile could be viewed by people they do not know may be unsettling for some users. However, she did acknowledge that Tinder has a generally good record on data privacy.

Matchmaking: A Common Practice

Ryan also highlighted that involving friends and family in matchmaking is a common practice in many communities. Outsiders may offer a more objective view on potential matches, although she cautioned that too many opinions could cloud one’s judgment.

Similar Features from Competitors

Tinder is not the first dating app to introduce such a feature. Hinge, also owned by Tinder’s parent company Match Group, launched a similar feature in 2017. However, it has since been discontinued. Bumble, a rival dating app, also has a feature that allows individual profiles to be shared with friends outside of the app.