Tinder App

Tinder, the widely-used online dating and social networking app, is reinventing itself to better resonate with the new generation’s preferences. The latest update of the Tinder app, compatible with both Android and iOS, rolls out a series of new features aimed at accommodating a modern, diverse user base.

“At Tinder, we recognize that today’s connections are about being genuine, meaningful, and craving relationships that delve deeper than just surface level. Our latest features are a direct response to these changing needs. We’ve observed that the new wave of daters places greater importance on values like respect (78 percent)* and open-mindedness (61 percent), rather than just physical appearance (5 percent). They seek genuine connections rooted in shared interests and common causes, eschewing the superficial ‘game-playing’ that marked previous generations. They are keen on expressing their true selves and expect the same honesty in return. With these innovative profile and discovery options, sharing what makes you, ‘you’, is now easier and more enjoyable than ever,” explains Mark Van Ryswyk, Tinder’s Chief Product Officer.

What is Tinder?

Introduced in 2012, Tinder is a social application designed to foster romantic interactions among users who express mutual interest.

Users on the platform swipe left or right to express ‘like’ or ‘dislike’ on other members’ profiles, potentially leading to a match. Communication on Tinder is exclusive to pairs of users who have both swiped right on each other’s profiles, indicating a mutual match. By 2021, Tinder was recording approximately 1.6 billion swipes daily and facilitating around one million face-to-face dates every week.

Where is Tinder available?

Tinder is operational in over 190 countries worldwide, yet it doesn’t hold the title of the most popular dating app. According to data shared by App Annie with the BBC, London-based Badoo reigns as the leading dating app in 21 of the world’s largest countries. Meanwhile, Tinder leads the pack in 18 countries, showcasing a competitive landscape in the global dating app market.

Interested in signing up for Tinder? Here’s how you can get started:

First, download the Tinder app on your smartphone. It’s available for both Android and iOS devices and is free to download. Note that while the app is free, some of its features may require payment to access.
To create your Tinder profile, you can log in using your Facebook account. Don’t worry about privacy – Tinder will never post anything on your Facebook profile.
Allow Tinder to access your device’s location. This is essential for the app to work correctly, as it uses your location to show you potential matches nearby.

How does Tinder work?

After downloading and joining Tinder, here are the steps to effectively use the app:

Create Your Profile

Start by launching Tinder. To set up your profile, tap on the Profile icon located at the top of your screen, in the navigation bar, to go to your Profile page.
On your Profile page, you’ll notice a pencil icon. Click this to enter the Edit Profile section. Here, you can upload your main profile photo (the first image others see when swiping) and additional photos from your camera roll. Users can view these additional photos by tapping on your profile. While adding photos, consider enabling the Smart Photos feature, which analyzes all your photos and selects the best one to display first.
Below the photo upload section, you can add personal details like your occupation and education. There’s also an option to link your Instagram and Spotify accounts, which allows you to share more pictures and your music preferences with others. Additionally, you can specify your gender and choose whether to display your age and distance to other users.

Modify Your Preferences

In the Profile section, select the Settings option to reach the Settings menu. Here, you can personalize various aspects of your Tinder experience. Adjust your preferences for gender visibility, search radius, and the age range of profiles you wish to encounter on Tinder. You also have the option to manage your profile visibility in Tinder’s feed. Additional personalization options include adding your favorite anthem, claiming a unique username, and activating special features like Super Likes, Boosts, as well as premium services like Tinder Plus, Tinder Gold, and Tinder Platinum. More details on these advanced features will be provided subsequently.

Begin exploring potential matches:

Access the Swipe Feature: Click the Fire icon at the top of your screen to view a list of people you can swipe on. Swipe left to pass on someone, indicating you’re not interested, or swipe right to show interest. Alternatively, use the red X button for rejection or the green heart button to show interest. If there’s a mutual match, Tinder will notify you.
View Detailed Profiles: For more information about someone, tap their profile picture. This action opens their full profile, complete with details, connected accounts, and more. Browse through their photo carousel for additional pictures. To express interest, hit the heart button on their profile, or press the X button to move on.
Express Strong Interest: To show you’re particularly interested in someone, tap the blue star button under their photos or on their profile.
Undo Swipes: Made a mistake? Use the yellow rewind button below the photos to reverse your like or pass. Note that this feature is part of the Tinder Plus subscription, costing £4.99/month, £2.50/month for six months, or £1.92/month for a year. Subscription prompts will appear for new users, and charges will be applied to your Apple App Store or Google Play Store account.
Boost Your Profile: To increase visibility, select the purple lightning button below photos and choose ‘Boost Me’. Purchasing a boost places your profile at the top in your area for 30 minutes, potentially increasing your matches. Costs are £3.99 for one boost, £3 each for five boosts, or £2.54 each for 10 boosts.

Explore Group Swiping on Tinder

Tinder now offers an exciting feature to connect with groups of people. To access this, simply select the People icon located at the top of the screen within the navigation bar. This action will take you to a Groups screen where you can browse through various groups. Like individual profiles, you can swipe left or right on these groups. Once you match with a group, Tinder will send you a notification.
Curious about the members of a specific group? Just tap on the profile pictures in the group’s photo collage to view each member’s individual profile. This allows you to get a better sense of the group’s composition before deciding to swipe.
Before you can start swiping on groups, you need to create your own group. To do this, head to the Groups screen and click the orange arrow button at the bottom. You’ll then be presented with options to create your group, which must include at least one other person.

Begin to Chat with Strangers

As soon as Tinder notifies you about a new match, either with an individual or a group, you’re presented with several options. You can initiate a chat with your match, continue swiping for more matches, or even share the news with friends. To start chatting, select ‘Send a Message’. This opens the chat interface where you can engage in conversations using text responses or choose from a variety of GIFs via GIPHY.
To view all your ongoing conversations, simply click on the Chat icon located at the top of the app’s interface (in the navigation bar). From there, you can select any chat, be it with an individual or a group, to either start a new conversation or pick up where you left off.

What are Tinder’s biggest features?

We’ve covered the key features of Tinder earlier, but here’s a bit more detail for clarity:

Swipes: Tinder’s fundamental feature allows you to swipe left to pass or right to like individuals and groups. This feature is free.
Super Likes: Express a higher level of interest with Super Likes. You get a limited number initially, and once depleted, you can either wait for a refill or upgrade to Tinder Plus for immediate additional Super Likes.
Boosts: Enhance your profile visibility by purchasing a Boost. It makes your profile the top one in your area for 30 minutes, potentially increasing your matches. Costs vary based on quantity purchased.
Tinder Plus: The basic premium version of Tinder offers additional features like rewind on swipes and the Passport feature, which allows you to discover people outside your current location. Subscription costs vary depending on the duration.
Tinder Gold: A step up from Tinder Plus, Tinder Gold reveals who has liked your profile before you decide to swipe on them. This feature allows for immediate matching.
Tinder Platinum: The highest tier on Tinder includes all lower-tier benefits plus the ability to send a message with a Super Like, and ensures your profile is prioritized in the card stack of those you’ve liked.
Swipe with Friends: Tinder now allows you to find a group of friends to hang out with. You can set up your group via the Profile screen.
Chat: Once matched, you can chat or send GIFs to individuals or groups. This feature is free.

These features combine to offer a comprehensive and varied Tinder experience, from casual browsing to more serious searching and socializing.

What is Tinder Gold?

Tinder Gold, an upgrade to the Tinder Plus tier, was initially launched for select iOS users in the US on August 29, 2017. Before its US debut, it underwent testing in various markets, including Canada, the UK, Mexico, and Germany. At an additional cost of $4.99 per month, Tinder Gold promises to increase your likes by approximately 60% compared to the free Tinder version.

This premium tier introduces the ‘Likes You’ feature, which reveals who has already swiped right on your profile. It also includes several other functionalities: the ‘Rewind’ feature allows you to retract accidental swipes, and you get unlimited likes, up to five Super Likes daily, and the ability to swipe in different geographical locations.

What is Tinder Select?

Tinder Select serves as an exclusive, members-only edition of the popular app, designed for a select group of users including CEOs, supermodels, and other highly successful or affluent individuals, as well as celebrities and top-performing Tinder users. This was reported by CapeFlats, which claimed access to images showing the feature in action. Rather than being a standalone application, Tinder Select is integrated as a special feature within the existing Tinder app.

Towards the end of 2016, Tinder began inviting certain users to access Tinder Select. Reportedly, some of these chosen members also possess the ability to extend invitations to others. The criteria Tinder uses to determine eligibility for Tinder Select invitations remains somewhat mysterious.