Tinder US Now Requires Selfie Verification for New Users

Tinder Expands Facial Verification to Enhance User Safety

Tinder, a leading dating application, revealed on Wednesday an expansion of its facial-verification system to a wider audience within the United States.

Introducing Face Check

The facial-verification system, officially named Face Check, mandates that new users confirm their identities through the submission of a brief video selfie. This initiative is designed to curtail the prevalence of impersonation on the platform and prevent connections with automated bots or inauthentic profiles.

Face Check generates a three-dimensional video scan of a user’s face, comparing it to the images featured on their profile. Successful completion of the verification process results in the awarding of a badge on the user’s profile, signaling to others that their identity has been confirmed.

How Face Check Works

The system also detects instances where the same facial image is used across multiple accounts, offering an extra layer of protection against fraudulent activity and the creation of duplicate profiles.

While video selfies are deleted after review, Tinder retains an “encrypted face map and face vector” which is non-reversible. This data assists in verifying new photos, identifying potential fraud, and preventing the establishment of multiple accounts by the same individual.

Global Rollout and Current Availability

Face Check was initially implemented in California in June, alongside deployments in Colombia and Canada. The feature is now also accessible in Australia, India, and several countries throughout Southeast Asia.

Further expansion within the U.S. is planned for the coming months. Additionally, other applications owned by Match Group are slated to integrate the technology by 2026.

Addressing User Concerns and Revenue Challenges

Recent years have seen a decline in Tinder users due to concerns surrounding safety, privacy, and negative interactions. The company is currently navigating financial difficulties, having reported a 7% decrease in paying subscribers during the second quarter of 2025.

Positive Initial Results

Since its launch, Tinder reports encouraging outcomes from Face Check, including a 60% reduction in exposure to potentially harmful users and a 40% decrease in reports of problematic behavior.

Industry Trend: Facial Recognition for Security

Other tech companies are also adopting facial-recognition technology to combat scams. Meta, for example, utilizes similar systems to aid users in recovering access to compromised Facebook or Instagram accounts.

Bumble also provides photo verification, requiring users to submit a selfie replicating a chosen pose to achieve verified status.

• Face Check utilizes 3D video scanning for identity confirmation.
• The system prevents the use of a single face across multiple accounts.
• Encrypted facial data is retained for ongoing verification purposes.