Tinder Face to Face: Video Chat Now Available Globally

Tinder, presently the most widely used dating application globally, enabling users to discover potential partners and establish connections, is introducing an additional feature designed to increase user engagement and expand communication possibilities within the platform.

Face to Face, a voluntary feature Tinder launched earlier this year allowing users to engage in video conversations without sharing personal contact details, and requiring both individuals to position their cameras directly forward, is now being made available worldwide, a potentially opportune development given the current trend of reduced in-person interactions.

Recognizing potential safety concerns associated with dating applications, Tinder emphasizes that this feature was developed not by its video production team, but by its Trust and Safety division.

“We are pleased to announce the global rollout of our Face to Face feature, following encouraging feedback from members who participated in its initial testing phase,” stated Rory Kozoll, Head of Trust and Safety Product at Tinder. “This addition complements our expanding suite of safety-focused tools, including Photo Verification, the Safety Center, and technology designed to detect offensive messaging, all aimed at enhancing user safety throughout the dating experience.”

Dating applications may appear to be an unusual sector to flourish during a period where many individuals are prioritizing social distancing—whether mandated by regulations or recommended by health professionals—and limiting social interactions to small, consistent groups.

However, it appears there is a growing opportunity: these apps provide a means for people to connect and get acquainted when many traditional venues for meeting others, such as bars, are closed or operating with limited capacity, and in-person encounters are generally less frequent.

Notably, Tinder has consistently maintained a prominent position among the most downloaded lifestyle applications this year, currently ranking third on iOS in the United States, according to data from AppAnnie.

The addition of a video chat function further reinforces the app’s utility, not only for identifying potential matches but also for facilitating communication with those individuals.

A significant benefit is that it avoids the potential for unsolicited approaches, which can occur in public settings like bars.

Tinder ensures that both parties must actively choose to participate in the feature, and a match must already exist within the standard app functionality before a video chat can be initiated.

Even after matching, users retain the ability to disregard incoming video chat requests, similar to declining a phone call.

Furthermore, if a user experiences inappropriate behavior or unwanted contact, they can report the individual by accessing their profile and following the provided “report” instructions, without necessarily disabling the feature entirely.

Tinder has been experimenting with video functionalities for several years to broaden the ways users interact within the app, as video remains a highly popular and engaging medium in the current app landscape.

The results have been varied. Tinder Loops, a feature for showcasing user-created video content, has been available since 2018 and continues to be well-received. Other initiatives, such as the Swipe Night interactive video event, were temporarily suspended in March due to the Covid-19 pandemic, although indications suggest the show is being revived in select international markets.