Dating apps are as popular as ever, here’s what they’re doing to keep their members safe

When it comes to finding love in 2022, the possibilities are endless, thanks to the myriad of dating apps on the market. While all of them operate in slightly different ways – some require you to swipe, some ask women to make the first move, and one is only available on a Thursday – they all have one shared goal: to forge a romantic connection between two strangers.

While dating apps have long been considered a common way of finding a partner, our reliance on them grew considerably during the pandemic as Covid-19 restrictions closed the doors of cafes, restaurants, bars and offices. Gone were the days of taking a liking to friends of friends on a Friday night at your local pub, or making a move on your work crush.

While early predictions estimated that Covid-19 could negatively impact the popularity of dating apps, as people wouldn’t be able to meet their matches during lockdowns, many platforms saw a growth in downloads as they implemented “virtual dating” features, such as allowing users to make video calls.

Popular dating app Tinder reported that 19 per cent more messages were sent per day in February 2021, compared to a year prior, and that conversations were 32 per cent longer during the pandemic. Meanwhile, the app’s parent company, Match – which owns more than 45 global dating companies – reported that its apps saw a 12 per cent increase in subscribers globally during 2020.

Suffice to say, our use of apps to find love doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon. While the positives of such apps speak for themselves, it’s worth noting that they can also carry a myriad of dangers. A 2020 report by Pew Research found that women were more likely to have a negative experience on online dating platforms, with 60 per cent being repeatedly contacted by someone even after telling them they weren’t interested.

Worryingly, 57 per cent said they had been sent a sexually explicit image or message they didn’t ask for and 19 per cent said someone on a dating site or app has threatened to physically harm them.

There’s also the danger of being catfished – when someone sets up a fake profile with the intention of deceiving others. Half of those surveyed by Pew Research said they had encountered a fake account set up with the intention of scamming people, while 71 per cent said they had noticed users lying about themselves to appear more desirable.

But as the demand for online dating grows, several key players have adapted their platforms to create a safer environment for users.

Following months of consultation with the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN), a US-based anti-sexual assault organisation, Tinder is rolling out a new process of handling complaints of sexual abuse and harassment.

Survivors will now be able to report a user despite having unmatched from them. “Members should feel confident they can hold someone accountable, even if they have unmatched, so we have created a more direct way to report directly in the app,” Tinder said.

The app will also try to ensure physical safety of its members. A new screen will ask a survivor to confirm they are safe and encourage contacting local authorities if needed. Tinder has also rehauled its “two-tap” reporting process, allowing users to report individual images and messages, and details about the perpetrator.

Finally, the last step of the process will give users control of how much follow-up information they receive. If a user is concerned about experiencing further trauma, they have the option to opt out of updates.

“Our members are trusting us with an incredibly sensitive and vulnerable part of their lives, and we believe we have a responsibility to support them through every part of this journey, including when they have bad experiences on and off the app,” Tracey Breeden, vice president of safety and social advocacy for Tinder and Match Group said.

Recent years have seen new and updated safety measures across other popular dating apps. In a bid to tackle unsolicited sexually explicit messages images, Bumble is taking steps to stop cyberflashing.

The app has built a “private detector” feature which captures and blurs nude images using artificial intelligence and warn users that the image is likely inappropriate before they click on it.

Additionally, in November 2021, the app launched a new campaign calling on the government to criminalise cyberflashing in England and Wales.

The platform has also taken steps to increase mental wellbeing, recently announcing a ban on body shaming language and derogatory comments made about someone’s appearance, body shape, size or health. This includes language that is fat-phobic, ableist, racist, colourist, homophobic and transphobic.

Some new apps on the market are prioritising safety by verifying every user who signs up. Thursday, which comes to life one day a week, giving members 24 hours to arrange a date with their matches, promises to “cut out catfishes and fake profiles” using an automated verification process.

“If they don’t pass our automatic facial recognition verification, then they can request manual verification in which case a member of our team will look at their selfie and their pictures on the account to make sure they’re the same,” said co-founder of the app, Matthew McNeill Love.

Other platforms seek to keep their users safe by aiming to keep conversations on the app for as long as possible, where inappropriate messages and abuse can be monitored and reported. This is the case for Muslim dating app Muzmatch, which has introduced an in-app video calling function.

And unlike other apps, Hinge – which prides itself on being “designed to be deleted” – follows up with users after they go on a first date with someone they met on the platform.

“If you did, we ask if they’re the type of person you’d like to see again. If not, you’re given the opportunity to share with us any inappropriate behavior. The feedback is private and helps keep the Hinge community safe and respectful,” a spokesperson told the Independent.