Dating app Tinder to start checking IDs in the UK
Listen to the story (British accent)
Tinder, a popular dating app, is launching a new feature in the UK. Tinder will start to verify users’ identities by using passports or driving licenses and video selfies.
Users who choose to use this feature will get a special icon on their profile. The icon shows that their age and picture have been checked and are real.
This change comes after many fraudsters have tried to trick other people on the app. This trick, known as “catfishing”, is when someone pretends to be a different person to start a relationship. The fraudsters usually try to get money from the other person.
A charity called Victim Support supports this feature but says it’s not enough. They believe that all dating apps should require ID checks, not just offer them as an option.
Tinder hopes that this new feature will make users feel safer and more confident when using the app. Users who verify their photo will get a blue camera icon, and people who prove their ID is real will get a blue ID icon. If a user does both, they will get a blue check mark.
This feature was first used in Australia and New Zealand in 2023. Tinder says that users who chose to verify their identities were 67% more likely to find a match.
The feature is also being launched in the US, Brazil, and Mexico.
This is not the first time Tinder has tried to verify users. They have previously used selfies and given blue check marks to famous people.
Vocabulary23 words
- Dating
- Getting to know someone in a friendly way, sometimes with the hope of becoming romantic partners; Meeting and spending time with someone to see if you like each other
- App
- A computer program/application that can be used on a mobile phone or tablet
- Launch
- start selling something; introduce a new product or service; to start using a new thing
- Feature
- a special or important point; attribute; quality; component; part;
- Verify
- Confirm, prove, or show that something is true or accurate
- User
- a person who uses something
- Identity
- Who you are, like your name, age, and other personal information
- Selfie
- a picture you take of yourself
- Icon
- A small picture or symbol that represents something
- Profile
- A page that tells people about you; Information about a person on a website or app
- Check
- to carefully look at; To examine or inspect something closely; to confirm; investigate
- Fraudster
- A person who tricks others to get money or information;
- Trick
- A clever or sneaky way to make someone believe or do something
- Catfishing
- Pretending to be someone else online, often to trick someone into a relationship;
- Pretend
- to make-believe or act like something that you are not
- Relationship
- a close romantic friendship between two people
- Charity
- an organization/group that gives money, food, or help to people who need it
- Support
- to agree with a person or idea; to approve of an idea; promote; to help
- Require
- make necessary; to order or demand something
- ID
- Short for "identification," like a card or document that proves who you are; Something that shows who you are, like a driver's license or passport
- Check mark
- a symbol, usually a small tick or a cross, used to indicate that something is correct or complete; ✓; ✅
- Match
- When two things or people are similar or go well together; Finding someone who is good for you
- Previously
- before; earlier; at an earlier time
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Tinder, a _____ dating app, is launching a new feature in the _____. Tinder will start to verify users’ identities by using _____ or driving licenses and video selfies.
_____ who choose to use this feature will get a special _____ on their profile. This icon shows that their age and _____ have been checked and are real.
This _____ comes after many fraudsters have tried to trick other people on the app. This trick, _____ as “catfishing”, is when someone pretends to be a different _____ to start a relationship. The fraudsters usually try to get _____ from the other person.
A charity called Victim Support _____ this feature but says it’s not enough. They believe that all dating apps should require ID checks, not just _____ them as an option.
Tinder hopes that this _____ feature will make users feel safer and more confident when using the _____. Users who verify their photo will get a _____ camera icon, and people who prove their ID is real will get a blue _____ icon. If a user does both, they will get a blue _____.
This feature was first used in _____ and New Zealand in 2023. Tinder says that users who chose to verify their identities were _____% more likely to find a match.
The feature is also being launched in the US, _____, and Mexico.
This is not the first _____ Tinder has tried to verify users. They have previously used _____ and given blue check marks to famous people.
Discussion questions
- Do you think ID verification is a good way to improve safety on dating apps? Should it be required on all dating apps?
- Are there any possible downsides to using ID verification? What might they be?
- What else can dating apps do to improve user safety?
- Do you think this feature will make people more likely to use Tinder? Why or why why not?
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