Popular dating app Tinder has launched a new feature called 'Matchmaker', which allows family and friends to access the online dating service and recommend profiles for a user. According to The Guardian, the new tool has been rolled out in 15 countries, including India, the UK, and the US, before going global in a few months' time. This will now allow users to offer up to 15 friends, family members, or guardians 24 hours to scrutinise their possible matches. The members can view profiles and make suggestions without having an account of their own.
"For years, singles have asked their friends to help find their next match on Tinder, and now we are making that so easy with Matchmaker. It brings your circle of trust into your dating journey and helps you see the possibilities you might be overlooking from the perspective of those closest to you," Melissa Hobley, Chief Marketing Officer, Tinder, said in a statement, as per the outlet.
The 'Matchmaker' feature allows users to send profiles to a group of selected people, chosen by the user, so they can scroll through and give their opinions, the BBC reported. This group cannot like or reject potential matches but can make recommendations. Under this tool, up to 15 people can view a profile without needing to log in to Tinder to do so.
Tinder Matchmaker is available in the UK, US, Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, Spain, Thailand and Vietnam. It will be rolled out to other countries over time. The dating app said that the new feature is built on a common phenomenon whereby users give their phones to their friends for their opinions.
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However, according to the BBC, dating experts have warned that the new tool could lead to privacy concerns. Dating expert and matchmaker Sarah Louise Ryan said that her one reservation about this feature is the fact that one person's profile can be shared digitally with other people. But she also added that Tinder generally had a good record on data privacy.
Separately, speaking to BBC, Tinder said users can opt out of their profile being shown in the Mtachmaking experience. "You can opt out of your profile being shown in the Matchmaker experience, end all active Matchmaker sessions or invite friends to be your Matchmaker via Settings," the company said.
Tinder launched in September 2012 and since then it has radically changed the landscape of online dating.
