Tinder has introduced an advanced ID verification system to its users in the US, UK, Brazil, and Mexico, as part of its ongoing efforts to combat catfishing within the dating realm.
This system mandates users to submit a video selfie along with a valid driver's license or passport for authentication purposes.
In this photo illustration taken on October 6, 2020, a user checks the dating app Tinder on a mobile phone in Islamabad. - Unlike in many countries where meeting online is routine, Pakistanis who use dating apps regularly face harassment and judgmental relatives -- and now also have to contend with a government clampdown.
Tinder's Advanced ID Verification System
While Tinder has traditionally required users to provide photo or video selfies for verification, the inclusion of passport and driver's license validation marks a significant enhancement to the process.
Upon submission of the ID, Tinder cross-references it with the user's video selfie and profile photos to ensure authenticity. Additionally, the system verifies the date of birth on the ID to confirm the user's age.
For those apprehensive about sharing personal identification on a dating platform, there remains an alternative option for verification through video selfies alone. However, users opting for this method will receive a blue camera icon badge on their profile, rather than the coveted blue checkmark.
Following successful testing in New Zealand and Australia last year, Tinder is expanding the updated verification tool to the UK and Brazil by spring and to the US and Mexico by summer.
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Bolstering Confidence, Avoiding Catfishes
Tinder emphasized the importance of this ID verification feature in bolstering user confidence and safety by confirming the authenticity of profiles, particularly regarding date of birth and likeness.
This enhanced verification process facilitates checks to ensure that the individual depicted in the video selfie matches both the photo on the ID and the user's profile photos. Furthermore, the system verifies the date of birth on the ID, adding an additional layer of confirmation.
Tinder's initiative has garnered praise from industry experts, with Pamela Zaballa, CEO of NO MORE, commending the platform for providing users with an additional option to authenticate their matches, fostering a safer and more secure environment for interaction.
"People want to feel safe and confident when connecting and communicating with their matches, and we applaud Tinder for giving users this additional option to help confirm their match is the person in their profile," Zaballa said in a statement.
Ted Bunch, Chief Development Officer, A Call To Men, further noted: "We believe ID Verification is an important tool users can adopt to help prove they are the person in their photos as well as help provide some peace of mind when deciding to meet someone off the app."
"By giving this option to more users, Tinder is giving users more choice and options in how they connect and ultimately feel safer when exploring new connections," he added.
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