In the nearly 70 countries where being LGBTQ is criminalized (or even illegal), being yourself openly and loving who you want to love can be dangerous and potentially life-threatening. In the age of online dating and apps, Tinder is going a step farther to protect its LGBTQ users.
In a new update announced today, a "travel alert" will pop up for LGBTQ users in countries where LGBTQ people are discriminated against and give them the chance to hide their profiles before they publically show up on the app.
"If a user chooses to be shown on Tinder—and has added Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity to their profile—it will not be displayed until they leave that area," the press release reads.
Available on iOS and Android, "the alert is designed to protect and inform users of the potential dangers the LGBTQ community faces in that area so they can take extra caution and don’t unknowingly put themselves in dangerous situations for simply being themselves."
The alert will refer people to resources at ILGA World, the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association, where users can educate themselves on worldwide discrimination laws against LGBTQ people and resources on how to protect themselves.
"We fundamentally believe that everyone should be able to love who they want to love - and we strive to reflect this in everything we do at Tinder," said Elie Seidman, CEO of Tinder. "It is unthinkable that, in 2019, there are still countries with legislation in place that deprives people of this basic right. We serve all communities - no matter their gender identity or sexual orientation - and we are proud to offer features that help keep them safe. This alert is an example of the many steps that we are taking to protect our users around the world."
The travel alert will roll out worldwide over the next couple of days.
