Tinder introduces 'matchmaker' feature allowing friends and family to approve matches

Tinder, the popular dating app, has unveiled a new feature known as 'Matchmaker,' which enables friends and family to engage in the online dating experience by recommending profiles for a user.

This feature has initially been launched in 15 countries, including India, the UK, and the US, and is expected to go global in the coming months.

It permits users to offer up to 15 friends, family members, or guardians the opportunity to assess their potential matches within a 24-hour window. These individuals can view profiles and provide input without the need for their own Tinder account, reported The Guardian.

Melissa Hobley, Chief Marketing Officer at Tinder, said, "For years, singles have asked their friends to help find their next match on Tinder, and now we are making that so easy with Matchmaker. It 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."

This 'Matchmaker' feature empowers users to send profiles to a selected group of people, chosen by the user, who can then review and provide feedback on the profiles. Although this group cannot like or reject potential matches, they can offer recommendations.

Tinder Matchmaker is currently available in various countries, including the UK, US, Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, Spain, Thailand, and Vietnam.

The feature has been inspired by the common practice of individuals seeking opinions from friends while using the app.

However, dating experts have raised privacy concerns about the new tool.

Sarah Louise Ryan, a dating expert and matchmaker, expressed reservations about the feature to the BBC, particularly about the sharing of one person's profile with others digitally. Nevertheless, she acknowledged that Tinder has generally maintained a strong record in terms of data privacy.

Tinder, as a company, has assured users that they can choose to opt out of their profile being part of the Matchmaking experience.

"You can opt out of your profile being shown in the Matchmaker experience, end all active Matchmaker sessions or invite friends to be your Matchmaker via Settings," the company stated.

Tinder was launched in September 2012 and has since played a transformative role in the landscape of online dating.