Tinder has announced that its ID Verification function will soon be available to all of its users across the world. According to their official press release, the feature will allow users to authenticate their profiles by uploading and verifying documents. ID verification will be optional initially, except in places where it is mandatory by law. This is because the company understands that some users may be hesitant to reveal their personal information online.
Tinder intends to seek expert advice as well as member feedback to help with this transition. Through consultation, they wish to understand which documents are most appropriate for the verification. In addition, a thorough analysis of local laws and regulations will determine how the feature will roll out. Their objective is to make the app more accessible and privacy-friendly.
In Japan, Tinder launched ID Verification in 2019. Usually, verification in Japan requires a passport or driver’s licence, however, this varies by location. Surprisingly, Tinder is the first major platform to commit to a wider implementation of ID verification.
Tracey Breeden, Vice President of Safety and Social Activism at Match Group offered her insights. She acknowledged that certain users, particularly those from marginalized groups, can’t or don’t want to reveal their true identities online. Thus, “Creating a truly equitable solution for ID Verification is a challenging, but critical safety project and we are looking to our communities as well as experts to help inform our approach,” she said.
Why Do We Need This New Feature?
Tinder has launched out over ten safety features in the last two years. Safety features such as Noonlight, Face to Face video chat, Photo Verification, etc. They’re heavily investing in technology that helps members stay safe by reducing anonymity, increasing accountability.
Consider Tinder’s Photo Verification feature. Their program compares in-app selfies to your profile photos using facial recognition, allowing you to become a verified member. Consequently, members’ dating profiles have a blue checkmark. This has helped to reduce catfishing on the app to some extent.
Catfishing occurs when someone creates a fictitious profile on social media platforms in order to deceive others into believing they are someone else. It is particularly popular on dating applications. The idea is to construct false identities, fabricate life tales, and utilize pictures of unsuspecting victims. Catfishers embellish their false profiles with real-life experiences, occupations, friends and photos. Such a phenomenon has the potential to harm unsuspecting people online.
This idea to make users of the dating app provide identification comes amid ongoing debate over how to utilize technology to prevent online abuse. Tinder’s idea of using documentation to verify a person’s identity might be a potential strategy for combating it.
Tinder’s Rory Kozoll, Head of Trust and Safety Product, said the app will incorporate ID verification technologies in a “test-and-learn” approach. Therefore, as of now, it remains unclear if the ID verification feature will succeed or not.
