Tinder has added a matchmaking feature that gives users’ friends and family members autonomy to hand-pick who they should date. The move aims to streamline the process of getting other people’s opinions and allows them to recommend potential matches within the app.
The feature speeds up the so-called “friend test,” to determine if the person is “worthy” of swiping right. Instead of matching first and deciding later, the feature takes the guesswork out of whether your friends and family will approve. They won’t be able to chat or send messages to the recommended partner and the user will still have the opportunity to veto the profile if they don’t approve of the person.
Tinder partnered with rapper Coi Leray who says she understands the need for friends to insert their opinions into your love life.
“Handing your phone over to the friend group was the original vibe check. Obviously, you want your friends to like whoever you’re crushing on, and Tinder Matchmaker is a fun way to get the bestie seal of approval even before the match.” Leray said in Tinder’s news release.
The company said it conducted an online survey of 2,500 people in the UK, U.S., and Australia to determine how people who are actively dating are using the app. The survey, overseen by OnePoll, reportedly showed that more than 75% of surveyed users between the ages of 18 and 25 said they discuss their dating habits with their friends several times each month.
“Tinder Matchmaker 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 at Tinder told Mashable.
Tinder Matchmaker is available in 15 countries including the U.S., Australia, Canada, France, Japan, South Korea, and the UK, among others. The company says it plans to introduce the to global users in the coming months.
The added feature comes after Tinder’s parent company, Match Group, introduced artificial intelligence software in August to make the user’s profile more appealing by automatically selecting the five best photos to upload. Yet another way users can pass on the responsibility of finding true love.