Tinder is implementing changes to its community guidelines to ensure a safe and respectful environment on the dating app, the company announced today. In a bid to discourage self-promotion and protect privacy, Tinder will automatically remove social media handles from bios and discourage users from sharing private conversations with their matches on external platforms.
The updated guidelines aim to reinforce the idea that Tinder is primarily for making personal connections rather than promoting businesses or gaining followers on social media channels. Users will no longer be able to display their social handles on public bios and profiles, although they can still share their Instagram profiles through Tinder’s integration with the platform.
Tinder has always prohibited the promotion of businesses on its app, but it is now implementing a stricter policy to emphasize its focus on personal connections. The company stated in a press release, “Tinder is not a place to promote businesses to try making money,” adding that members should not use the platform to advertise, sell items, fundraise, or campaign. Consequently, Tinder will remove social handles from public bios to address this issue.
Regarding the sharing of private Tinder chats on other platforms, Tinder’s updated policy emphasizes that users should not post private conversations unless they have obtained consent from their matches. While conversations on Tinder often go viral on platforms like Twitter or TikTok, Tinder believes that these interactions should remain confined to the app itself.
The updated guidelines also specify that each Tinder account should represent a single individual, urging users in poly and open relationships to create separate accounts for each partner. Couples are discouraged from using a single account to seek additional partners. Tinder advises users to utilize its recently introduced Relationship Types profile feature to indicate their preferences for ethical non-monogamy, open relationships, or polyamory.
In addition to these updates, Tinder highlights the importance of respecting boundaries and discourages the creation of fake personas or false reports against others. The company encourages users to leverage its in-app features to express their relationship goals and preferences clearly.
Ehren Schlue, SVP of Member Strategy at Tinder, explained the motivation behind these changes, stating, “To guide these younger daters as they start their dating journey, Tinder is using this policy refresh to remind and educate members about healthy dating habits — both online and in real life.” The majority of Tinder’s user base falls within the 18-25 age range.
These updated community guidelines follow Tinder’s recent introduction of an AI-powered update to its Photo Verification feature. The new process requires users to provide a video selfie instead of photos, strengthening the verification process and deterring bot accounts and catfishers. Tinder also plans to allow users to restrict their chats to members who have also undergone Photo Verification, further enhancing user safety.
