Tinder is a social network that for many years, almost 10 to be exact, came to become one of the most common ways to meet new people from the community of your smartphone.
However, over the years, the social network has adapted to changes in users, so now it plans to make Identity Verification accessible to everyone.
What’s new on Tinder
This update is currently only available in Japan, however the dating app will make it accessible to all of its users, regardless of their geographic location.
Through a release, the company announced that the Identity Verification will arrive in “the next few quarters.” In addition, Tinder asserted that this “would start as a volunteer” and that a group of experts would be consulted to determine “Which documents are the most appropriate in each country”, as well as local regulations and laws to follow while implementing the function.
In the case of Japan, where the function has been active since 2019, usually the requested documents are a passport or license, but this may vary depending on the places within the same country.
The value of security
Tinder’s decision seems to be the most successful at a time when users are most concerned about their security, so being able to have more control over users who use the network sounds reasonable.
However, it is clear that there will also be those who question the level of protection that the dating application will provide to the information that is provided, so Tinder must work with it and be as transparent as possible.
That is why the app executives recognized that this identity verification can be a problem, as there will be those who have good reasons not to activate this update. but the company works to make the process inclusive and “respectful of privacy.”
“We know that one of the most valuable things Tinder can do to help members feel safe is give them more confidence that their matches are authentic and more control over who they interact with,” said Rory Kozoll, Director of Trust and Safety Products. from Tinder, in a statement.
The decision at the end of the day will be voluntary, with only a few exceptions in countries, but Tinder will still incentivize more users to join.
“We know that in many parts of the world and within traditionally underserved communities, people may have compelling reasons why they cannot or do not want to share their real-world identity with an online platform,” said Tracey Breeden, vice president. of security and social defense in Match Group, the parent company of Tinder.
For some time now, Tinder has made it a priority to add security-focused features to its app; In 2020 it added a photo verification system, which adds a blue check mark to users’ dating profiles.
Likewise, Match Group, Tinder’s parent company, partnered with background check platform Garbo earlier this year, but this technology has yet to be made available to users.